BackgroundCalcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a chronic disorder characterized by a fibro-calcic remodelling. It is suspected that lipid retention within the aortic valve may be an important mechanism participating to aortic valve inflammation and remodelling. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is involved in lipid metabolism and may play a role in lipid retention within the aortic valve.Methods/ResultsIn a group of 82 CAVD patients, tissues and blood plasma were analysed for LPL expression along with several indices of tissue remodeling and a complete blood lipid profile, including the size of LDL and HDL. In human CAVD tissues we found a high level of LPL, which was associated with the remodeling process. Furthermore, the number of LPL transcript was inversely related to the size of HDL particles. In turn, in patients with higher content of ox-LDL within CAVD, we found a higher proportion of subjects with smaller HDL particles as well as higher expression of LPL transcripts. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that LPL co-localized with ox-LDL and decorin, suggesting a role in lipid retention.ConclusionLPL expression is associated with CAVD and remodeling process. Interactions between lipid retention and HDL size may explain the relationship between LPL and CAVD. BackgroundCalcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a chronic disorder characterized by a fibro-calcic remodelling. It is suspected that lipid retention within the aortic valve may be an important mechanism participating to aortic valve inflammation and remodelling. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is involved in lipid metabolism and may play a role in lipid retention within the aortic valve. Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a chronic disorder characterized by a fibro-calcic remodelling. It is suspected that lipid retention within the aortic valve may be an important mechanism participating to aortic valve inflammation and remodelling. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is involved in lipid metabolism and may play a role in lipid retention within the aortic valve. Methods/ResultsIn a group of 82 CAVD patients, tissues and blood plasma were analysed for LPL expression along with several indices of tissue remodeling and a complete blood lipid profile, including the size of LDL and HDL. In human CAVD tissues we found a high level of LPL, which was associated with the remodeling process. Furthermore, the number of LPL transcript was inversely related to the size of HDL particles. In turn, in patients with higher content of ox-LDL within CAVD, we found a higher proportion of subjects with smaller HDL particles as well as higher expression of LPL transcripts. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that LPL co-localized with ox-LDL and decorin, suggesting a role in lipid retention. In a group of 82 CAVD patients, tissues and blood plasma were analysed for LPL expression along with several indices of tissue remodeling and a complete blood lipid profile, including the size of LDL and HDL. In human CAVD tissues we found a high level of LPL, which was associated with the remodeling process. Furthermore, the number of LPL transcript was inversely related to the size of HDL particles. In turn, in patients with higher content of ox-LDL within CAVD, we found a higher proportion of subjects with smaller HDL particles as well as higher expression of LPL transcripts. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that LPL co-localized with ox-LDL and decorin, suggesting a role in lipid retention. ConclusionLPL expression is associated with CAVD and remodeling process. Interactions between lipid retention and HDL size may explain the relationship between LPL and CAVD. LPL expression is associated with CAVD and remodeling process. Interactions between lipid retention and HDL size may explain the relationship between LPL and CAVD.