OBJECTIVE: Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) results in an impairment of atrial function. In order to elucidate the mechanism behind this phenomenon, we investigated the gene expression of proteins influencing calcium handling. METHODS: Right atrial appendages were obtained from eight patients with paroxysmal AF, ten with persistent AF (> 8 months) and 18 matched controls in sinus rhythm. All controls underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, whereas most AF patients underwent Cox's MAZE surgery (n = 12). All patients had a normal left ventricular function. Total RNA was isolated and reversely transcribed into cDNA. In a semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction the cDNA of interest and of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were coamplified and separated by ethidium bromide-stained gel electrophoresis. Slot blot analysis was performed to study protein expression. RESULTS: L-type calcium channel alpha 1 and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase mRNA (-57%, p = 0.01 and -28%, p = 0.04, respectively) and protein contents (-43%, p = 0.02 and -28%, p = 0.04, respectively) were reduced in patients with persistent AF compared to the controls. mRNA contents of phospholamban, ryanodine receptor type 2 and sodium/calcium exchanger were comparable. No changes were observed in patients with paroxysmal AF. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in gene expression of proteins involved in the calcium homeostasis occur only in patients with long-term persistent AF. In the absence of underlying heart disease, the changes are rather secondary than primary to AF.
OBJECTIVE: Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) results in an impairment of atrial function. In order to elucidate the mechanism behind this phenomenon, we investigated the gene expression of proteins influencing calcium handling. METHODS: Right atrial appendages were obtained from eight patients with paroxysmal AF, ten with persistent AF (> 8 months) and 18 matched controls in sinus rhythm. All controls underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, whereas most AFpatients underwent Cox's MAZE surgery (n = 12). All patients had a normal left ventricular function. Total RNA was isolated and reversely transcribed into cDNA. In a semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction the cDNA of interest and of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were coamplified and separated by ethidium bromide-stained gel electrophoresis. Slot blot analysis was performed to study protein expression. RESULTS: L-type calcium channel alpha 1 and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase mRNA (-57%, p = 0.01 and -28%, p = 0.04, respectively) and protein contents (-43%, p = 0.02 and -28%, p = 0.04, respectively) were reduced in patients with persistent AF compared to the controls. mRNA contents of phospholamban, ryanodine receptor type 2 and sodium/calcium exchanger were comparable. No changes were observed in patients with paroxysmal AF. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in gene expression of proteins involved in the calcium homeostasis occur only in patients with long-term persistent AF. In the absence of underlying heart disease, the changes are rather secondary than primary to AF.
Authors: Roman Laszlo; Christoph Winkler; Stefan Wöhrl; Ralf E Wessel; Sara Laszlo; Mathias C Busch; Jürgen Schreieck; Ralph F Bosch Journal: Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol Date: 2007-09-15 Impact factor: 3.000
Authors: Roman Laszlo; Christoph Winkler; Stefan Wöhrl; Sara Laszlo; Christian Eick; Jürgen Schreieck; Ralph F Bosch Journal: Exp Clin Cardiol Date: 2007
Authors: Mihail G Chelu; Satyam Sarma; Subeena Sood; Sufen Wang; Ralph J van Oort; Darlene G Skapura; Na Li; Marco Santonastasi; Frank Ulrich Müller; Wilhelm Schmitz; Ulrich Schotten; Mark E Anderson; Miguel Valderrábano; Dobromir Dobrev; Xander H T Wehrens Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2009-07 Impact factor: 14.808