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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Vet Cardiol. 2012 Feb 24;14(1):31–45. doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2011.11.003

Figure 7.

Figure 7

The functions of VICs can be organized into five major phenotypes: embryonic progenitor endothelial / mesenchymal cells, quiescent VICs (qVICs), activated VICs (aVICs), stem cell-derived progenitor VICs (pVICs), and osteoblastic VICs (obVICs). Through the process of EMT, embryonic progenitor endothelial / mesenchymal cells differentiate into aVICs and qVICs. aVICs are capable migration, proliferation, and ECM synthesis. qVICs remain quiescent until the heart valve is injured, at which point they transition to aVICs and aid in the repair and remodeling process. In addition, they can differentiate into obVICs in certain conditions. pVICs are derived from bone marrow. They are present in the bone marrow, in circulation, and in the heart valve. They are an additional source of aVICs in adulthood. obVICs respond to osteogenic and chondrogenic factors and promote valve calcification. Hatched arrows represent hypothesized transitions for which there is currently not solid evidence. Other abbreviations used: EPCs = Endothelial Progenitor Cells, DCs = Dendritic cells. Reprinted from Liu AC, Joag VR, Gotlieb AI. The Emerging Role of Valve Interstitial Cell Phenotypes in Regulating Heart Valve Pathobiology. Am J Pathol. 2007;171(5):1407–1418 with permission from Elsevier.