Empowering Valvular Heart Disease Research With Stem Cell–Derived Valve Cells

alvular heart disease (VHD) stemming from developmental defects, rheumatic fever, calcification, or age-related degeneration of valves is an escalating contributor to global cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.1 The burden of VHD is anticipated to rise significantly with an aging population.While the prevalence of moderate to severe VHD in the United States is estimated at 2.5% in the general population, this figure increases to 13.2% among individuals older than 75 years of age. 2 Article, see p 1435Although genetically modified mouse models have provided valuable insights into cell lineages, signaling interactions, epigenetics, and mechano-transduction related to valve pathophysiology, they only partially replicate human valvulogenesis and VHD phenotypes. 1 Consequently, the mechanisms underlying the phenotypic transition from healthy valve cells to diseased states (eg, proinflammatory, profibrotic, or calcific phenotypes) remain elusive.Therefore, the predominant treatment strategy remains centered on invasive and costly surgical procedures (ie, valvular repair or replacement).Valve replacement options include mechanical or bioprosthetic allograft valves.Although this procedure has significantly advanced the treatment of VHD, the implanted valves are not without their disadvantages: mechanical valves require patients to be on lifelong anticoagulation therapy and bioprosthetic valves are susceptible to calcification or degradation.3 With precision medicine gaining prominence in translational research and patient care, human induced plu-The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the editors or of the American Heart Association.