Question: An elderly patient with a history of hypertension presents with shortness of breath and fatigue on exertion. An echocardiogram shows a thickened aortic valve with decreased leaflet mobility. Which molecular event is predominantly responsible for the cellular changes observed in the affected tissue? Group of answer choices Activation of osteogenic signaling pathways Upregulation of proteoglycan synthesis Inhibition of osteoblast differentiation Enhanced production of anti-inflammatory cytokines