Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common irregular heart rhythm which influence approximately 1–2% of the general population. As a potential factor for ischemic stroke, AF could also cause heart failure. The mechanisms behind AF pathogenesis is complex and remains elusive. As a new category of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been known as the key of developmental processes, regulation of cell function, pathogenesis of heart diseases and pathological responses which could provide novel sight into the pathogenesis of AF. circRNAs function as modulators of microRNAs in cardiac disease. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of circRNA in AF, especially the complex interactions among circRNA, microRNA and mRNA, we collected the heart tissues from three AF patients and three healthy controls and profiled their circRNA expressions with circRNA Microarray. The differentially expressed circRNAs were identified and the biological functions of their interaction microRNAs and mRNAs were analyzed. Our results provided novel insights of the circRNA roles in AF and proposed highly possible interaction mechanisms among circRNAs, microRNAs, and mRNAs.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common irregular heart rhythm which influence approximately 1–2% of the general population (Graham et al, 2015; Wang, 2018)
If the t-test p-value was smaller than 0.05 and the fold change was greater than 2, a circRNA was considered as differentially expressed between AF patients and healthy controls
For 537 up-regulated circRNAs, MeanAF − SDAF was always greater than MeanControl + SDControl; for 199 down-regulated circRNAs, MeanAF + SDAF was always smaller than MeanControl – SDControl
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common irregular heart rhythm which influence approximately 1–2% of the general population (Graham et al, 2015; Wang, 2018). Several important factors may increase the risk of developing AF, including age, sex, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, abnormal heart valves and lung diseases (Dagres and Anastasiou-Nana, 2010; Soliman et al, 2014). As a potential factor for ischemic stroke, AF could cause hospitalization for heart failure, and death which is associated with high mortality, morbidity, and socioeconomic burden (Voukalis et al, 2016). Current treatment of AF still lacks enough utility and efficacy which may have possibly adverse effects (Vallabhajosyula et al, 2016; Wan et al, 2016). The mechanisms behind AF pathogenesis are complex and remains elusive. Further study of the potential mechanisms of AF could provide novel treatment which could alternate current therapy effectively (Ogawa et al, 2017)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
