Association of the human minK gene 38G allele with atrial fibrillation: evidence of possible genetic control on the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
Human minK protein is the beta-subunit of I(Ks) potassium channel and plays an important role in cardiac cellular electrophysiology. We investigated the association between human atrial fibrillation and the polymorphism of minK gene (38G or 38S) with a case-control study.


METHODS
We included 108 patients with atrial fibrillation and 108 control subjects. The case patients and control subjects were matched regarding age, sex, presence of valvular heart disease, and presence of left ventricular dysfunction. The genotype of minK was determined with polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment analysis.


RESULTS
The results showed an association between the minK 38G allele and atrial fibrillation. The odds ratios for atrial fibrillation in patients with 1 and 2 minK 38G alleles were 2.16 (95% CI 0.81-5.74) and 3.58 (95% CI 1.38-9.27), respectively, when compared with patients without minK 38G allele. In a logistic regression model, the odds ratio for atrial fibrillation was 1.80 (95% CI 1.20-2.71, P <.0046) for patients with 1 more minK 38G allele.


CONCLUSIONS
We report the association between the minK 38G allele and clinical atrial fibrillation. Our findings suggest possible genetic control on the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation.
Lai
Ling-Ping
LP
Institute of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Su
Ming-Jai
MJ
Yeh
Huei-Ming
HM
Lin
Jiunn-Lee
JL
Chiang
Fu-Tien
FT
Hwang
Juey-Jen
JJ
Hsu
Kwan-Li
KL
Tseng
Chuen-Den
CD
Lien
Wen-Pin
WP
Tseng
Yung-Zu
YZ
Huang
Shoei K Stephen
SK
D000483:Alleles; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics
D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; C059983:potassium channel protein I(sk)