AUTHOR=Chan-Delgado Elizabeth , Lerma Claudia , Echeverría Juan C. , Toledo Andrea , Torres-Arellano José M. , Infante Oscar , Bojalil Rafael , Cossío-Aranda Jorge E. , Ávila-Vanzzini Nydia , Amezcua-Guerra Luis M. , Springall Rashidi 
  
TITLE=Matrix metalloproteinase activation and TNF upregulation characterize the sclerotic phase of aortic valve disease
  
JOURNAL=British Journal of Biomedical Science
  
VOLUME=Volume 83 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/british-journal-of-biomedical-science/articles/10.3389/bjbs.2026.16540
  
DOI=10.3389/bjbs.2026.16540
  
ISSN=2474-0896
  
ABSTRACT=IntroductionAortic valve sclerosis (AVSc) is an active pathological process driven by extracellular matrix remodeling, consistent with a potentially reversible early stage of aortic valve disease.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study of 168 participants (29, normal aortic valve [NAV]; 98, AVSc; 41, aortic stenosis [AS]), serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, and -9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were measured. Multivariable adjustments were performed.ResultsCompared with AS, AVSc was associated with higher circulating MMP-9 levels, with MMP-9 also increased relative to NAV. TIMP-1 concentrations were reduced in AVSc compared with both AS and NAV. TNF levels were higher in AVSc than in AS, while IL-6 and TGF-β did not differ among groups. Notably, MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was markedly increased in AVSc.DiscussionOur findings suggest that AVSc may exhibit an active proteolytic and inflammatory profile amenable to targeted anti-inflammatory and anti-proteolytic interventions.