Krox20 is required for aortic valve development

What is it about?

The heart valve leaflets derive from the outflow tract and atrioventricular cushions. Heart valve maturation is achieved by organization of extracellular matrix including collagens, proteoglycan and elastin. However, the factors that regulate matrix components required for valvular structure are unknown. Here we attempted to identify novel factor expressed during heart valve development. Thus, we found that Krox20 is required to regulate fibrillar collagen genes in mature heart valve leaflets.

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Why is it important?

Aortic valve disease is a major health concern, occurring in 2.5% of the population in the western world. Despite the clinical significance, the molecular mechanisms of this disease are poorly understood. We identified the transcription factor Krox20 (also known as Egr2) as an important transcriptional regulator of extracellular components defining the biomechanical properties of the aortic valves.