Novel insights into bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy: Long non-coding RNAs TUG1 and MIAT are differentially expressed in BAV ascending aortas.

Background: Whilst a combination of genetically mediated vulnerability and hemodynamic insult is suspected to contribute to bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood.

Methods: Utilizing RT-qPCR, we compared the expression of 28 potentially relevant long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in aortic tissue from BAV patients undergoing aortic surgery for aortopathy, to healthy controls. Relative lncRNA expression was measured using ΔΔCT, with fold-change calculated as RQ=2.