Key result
Losartan cuts BHV leaflet calcification ~71% vs control, while rosuvastatin and Entelon150 also reduce inflammatory markers.
Why the study?
Entelon150, losartan, and rosuvastatin reduce calcification and inflammation of bovine pericardium implants, but no study had compared their effects on bioprosthetic heart valves.
Do losartan, rosuvastatin, or Vitis vinifera seed extract reduce calcification and inflammation of subdermal bioprosthetic heart valve implants in a rat model?
Do losartan, rosuvastatin, or Vitis vinifera seed extract reduce calcification and inflammation of subdermal bioprosthetic heart valve implants in a rat model?
Vitis vinifera seed extract, losartan, and rosuvastatin demonstrated comparable anti-calcification and anti-inflammatory effects on bioprosthetic heart valve implants in a rat model.
Background/Objectives: Entelon150® (Vitis vinifera seed extract), losartan, and rosuvastatin have been shown to be effective in reducing calcification and inflammation of bovine pericardium implants. However, no study has compared the effects of the drugs on bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV). This study aimed to compare the anti-calcification and anti-inflammatory effects of each drug in a rat model. Methods: Twenty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats (two weeks old) were implanted with BHV leaflets in the dorsal subcutis. They were divided into control, losartan (10.3 mg/kg/day), rosuvastatin (2 mg/kg/day), and Entelon150® (30.8 mg/kg/day) groups. Eight weeks later, the calcium level and inflammatory cell infiltration in the BHV leaflets as well as the expression levels of IL-6, osteopontin, and BMP-2 in the surrounding tissues were measured. Results: Losartan-, Entelon150®-, and rosuvastatin-treated groups showed a decrease in the calcium content as compared to the control group in the order. A reduction in the inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the treatment groups (losartan > Entelon150® > rosuvastatin) as compared to that in the control group. The treatment groups showed a decrease in IL-6, OPN, and BMP-2 expression levels as compared to the control group in the following order: Entelon150® > losartan > rosuvastatin. Conclusions: The calcification of the BHV leaflets and inflammation of the surrounding tissues in treatment groups were lower than those in the control group and were comparable to each other. Entelon150® showed comparable anti-inflammatory and anti-calcification effects and may represent a potential therapeutic candidate for prolonging BHV durability, although further validation is required.
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Lee et al. (2026) studied Female Sprague-Dawley rats (2 weeks old) implanted with bioprosthetic heart valve leaflets in dorsal subcutis (n=28). Entelon150®, losartan, rosuvastatin vs. Control diet (no drug) was evaluated on Calcification of BHV leaflets measured by calcium content (mg/g), inflammation measured by inflammatory cell infiltration, and expression levels of IL-6, osteopontin, BMP-2 in surrounding tissue. Losartan reduced calcium levels in BHV leaflets to 0.209 mg/g from 0.718 mg/g in control (p<0.001), Entelon150® and rosuvastatin also significantly reduced calcium and inflammatory markers, with Entelon150® showing greatest reduction in IL-6, osteopontin, and BMP-2 expression.
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