While periostin usually is localized to the subendothelial layer in healthy heart valves, its levels are highly increased in infiltrated inflammatory cells and myofibroblasts in angiogenic areas in atherosclerotic and rheumatic valvular heart disease in humans.
2.
The possible vasoconstriction mechanism involved penetration of modified ( but unpolymerised ) Hb molecules into interstitial space of the subendothelial layers of vessel walls with consecutive nitric oxide scavenging and a sensitisation of peripheral a-adrenergic receptors.