Understanding sex-differences in heart valve calcification through correlative cryo-microscopy

CAVD shows in the deposition of calcifications in the aortic valve, which eventually leads to heart failure. We recently found that the types (phases) and morphologies of calcifications that form in the disease are completely different in men and women. This suggests that calcification in the two sexes follows an entirely different pathway. In this project, we want to better understand the different calcification pathways in men and women by relating the phases and the morphologies of the minerals in the two sexes to each other and to their associated tissue components. We will use a state-of-the-art correlative cryogenic Raman mapping and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) set-up at Radboud University Medical Center. Raman allows us to map the chemical composition of the heart valve tissue, while cryogenic TEM generates highly magnified images of the valve calcifications with corresponding phase information. The exchange between our spectroscopy expertise and our partner laboratory’s expertise in multi-scale microscopic analysis will allow both groups to more thoroughly answer mineralization-related questions. Applying these complementary techniques to heart valves from CAVD patients will elucidate the sex-specific calcification mechanisms of the disease, which could pave the way for the development of new sex-specific detection and treatment methods.

Faculty Supervisor:

Marta Cerruti

Student:

Partner:

Radboudumc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

McGill University

Program: