RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ACTIVITY OF ALKALINE PHOSPHATES AND DEGENERATIVE CARDIAC VALVULAR CALCIFICATION / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

To explore the association between alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and degenerative cardiac valvular calcification, the activity of ALP and the grades 0～Ⅳ degenerative calcified valves were determined by biochemical and immunocytochemical methods. ALP positive substance was present in the matrix around the foci of calcification and in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts. The bioactivity of ALP was much higher in grades Ⅰ and Ⅱ calcified valves than that in grades 0 and Ⅲ～Ⅳ calcified valves. The results indicate that the level of ALP bioactivity is predominantly dependent on the process of extruding matrix vesicles from senescent cells in the valves.