SPP1 and aortic stenosis: Importantly, those genes positively associated with poorer global myocardial structure but downregulated in AS myocardium included genes thought to be protective in fibrosis, hypertrophy, or inflammation (e.g., EREG50, PTX351–53, HMOX154, OPN/SPP155, VSIG456) or those whose absence may benefit remodeling during pressure overload (e.g., IL1R1, NPPC, etc.).