MMP gene expression was elevated in TAV and BAV patients vs control. RNA was harvested from aortic tissue and analyzed by qPCR for MMP-2 (A) and MMP-9 (B) gene expression. Bars represent mean±SEM MMP-2 or -9 gene expression for TAV and BAV relative to control; n=11, 19, and 20 for control, TAV, and BAV, respectively. *Significantly from control, P<0.05.