Shape-Specific Nanoceria Mitigate Oxidative Stress-Induced Calcification in Primary Human Valvular Interstitial Cell Culture

Abstract

Lack of effective pharmacological treatment makes valvular calcification a significant clinical problem in patients with valvular disease and bioprosthetic/mechanical valve replacement therapies. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in valve tissue have been identified as a prominent hallmark and driving factor for valvular calcification. However, the therapeutic value of ROS-modulating agents for valvular calcification remains elusive. We hypothesized that ROS-modulating shape-specific cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) will inhibit oxidative stress-induced valvular calcification. CNPs are a class of self-regenerative ROS-modulating agents, which can switch between Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ in response to oxidative microenvironment. In this work, we developed oxidative stress-induced valve calcification model using two patient-derived stenotic valve interstitial cells (hVICs) and investigated the therapeutic effect of shape-specific CNPs to inhibit hVIC calcification. Human valvular interstitial cells (hVICs) were obtained from a normal healthy donor and two patients with calcified aortic valves. hVICs were characterized for their phenotypic (mesenchymal, myofibroblast and osteoblast) marker expression by qRT-PCR and antioxidant enzymes activity before and after exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress. Four shape-specific CNPs (sphere, short rod, long rod, and cube) were synthesized via hydrothermal or ultra-sonication method and characterized for their biocompatibility in hVICs by alamarBlue^® assay, and ROS scavenging ability by DCFH-DA assay. H₂O₂ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were co-administrated to induce hVIC calcification in vitro as demonstrated by Alizarin Red S staining and calcium quantification. The effect of CNPs on inhibiting H₂O₂-induced hVIC calcification was evaluated. hVICs isolated from calcified valves exhibited elevated osteoblast marker expression and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the normal hVICs. Due to the impaired antioxidant enzyme activities, acute H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress resulted in higher ROS levels and osteoblast marker expression in both diseased hVICs when compared to the normal hVICs. Shape-specific CNPs exhibited shape-dependent abiotic ROS scavenging ability, and excellent cytocompatibility. Rod and sphere CNPs scavenged H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in hVICs in a shape- and dose-dependent manner by lowering intracellular ROS levels and osteoblast marker expression. Further, CNPs also enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes in hVICs to combat oxidative stress. Cube CNPs were not effective ROS scavengers. The addition of H₂O₂ in the Pi-induced calcification model further increased calcium deposition in vitro in a time-dependent manner. Co-administration of rod CNPs with Pi and H₂O₂ mitigated calcification in the diseased hVICs. We demonstrated that hVICs derived from calcified valves exhibited impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms and were more susceptible to oxidative stress than normal hVICs. CNPs scavenged H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in hVICs in a shape-dependent manner. The intrinsic ROS scavenging ability of CNPs and their ability to induce cellular antioxidant enzyme activities may confer protection from oxidative stress-exacerbated calcification. CNPs represent promising antioxidant therapy for treating valvular calcification and deserve further investigation.

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