Progressive Aortic Dilation Is Regulated by miR-17–Associated miRNAs

Patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) are at increased risk for progressive aortic dilation associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). However, the mechanisms responsible for initiating this process are unknown. In the heart, MMP activity is regulated by micro-ribonucleic acid-17 (miR-17)–related downregulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP); a similar process may exist in...