Quantification of Potassium Ion Channel Transcripts within the Human Left Atrium Throughout the Lifespan

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Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia requiring chronic anticoagulation to reduce the risk of stroke and thrombo‐embolism. The most common risk factor for the development of AF, is advanced age. Previous studies have suggested that changes in the expression of potassium (K+) ion channel transcripts such as Kir 2.1 and 2.3 which govern IK1, an inwardly rectifying K+ current which allows cardiac muscle to be stimulated sooner because of lower refractory periods, thus sustaining AF. In addition, changes to Kir 3.1 and 3.4 which govern IKACH, may stabilize AF sources within the left atrium. However, an understanding of what the expected changes to left atrial potassium transcripts throughout the human lifespan is not well defined. Biopsies from the left atrial appendage were obtained from patients requiring cardiac surgery, and from samples derived during organ donation. Specimens were placed in RNA later, and the RNA extracted using a RNA easy kit. Primers were designed to flank the intron for the respective transcript. RT‐PCR was conducted in duplicate for all samples, and all transcripts were normalized to GAPDH. Potential implications of this work include understanding the expected K channel transcript changes to the left atrium throughout the lifespan as well as developing a standard for which AF patients could be compared.Support or Funding InformationWork supported by the Department of Biology and Mathematics, D'Youville College.