[Atrial 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in rheumatic heart disease patients with or without atrial fibrillation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mRNA and protein expressions of 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11betaHSD2) in patients with atrial fibrillation.


METHODS
Right and left atrial lateral wall tissue samples were obtained during mitral/aortic valve replacement operation from 25 patients with rheumatic heart valve disease (12 in sinus rhythm and 13 in chronic atrial fibrillation). Realtime quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to determine the mRNA and protein expressions of 11betaHSD2 in atria specimens. The distribution of 11betaHSD2 in human atrial tissue was analyzed by specific immunohistochemical staining. Echocardiography examination was performed before operation.


RESULTS
The left atrial diameters were significantly higher in the atrial fibrillation group as compared to sinus rhythm group (P < 0.01). Similarly, mRNA expression of 11betaHSD2 (0.86 +/- 0.14 vs 0.33 +/- 0.12 in right atria, 0.95 +/- 0.15 vs 0.37 +/- 0.10 in left atria, all P < 0.01) and protein expression of 11betaHSD2 (1.18 +/- 0.64 vs 0.71 +/- 0.21 in right atria, P < 0.01; and 1.36 +/- 0.58 vs 0.85 +/- 0.15 in left atria, P < 0.05) were also significantly upregulated in atrial fibrillation groups than those in sinus rhythm groups. The mRNA and protein expressions of 11betaHSD2 were similar between left atria and right atria both in fibrillation and sinus groups (all P > 0.05). The special immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that 11betaHSD2 was abundant in the human atrial myocardium and located mainly in the cytoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested that upregulated 11betaHSD2 might be associated to the development and persistence of atrial fibrillation.
Pei
De-an
DA
Department of Cardiology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Li
Li
L
Xu
Zhi-yun
ZY
Huang
Jin-yu
JY
Xu
Zheng-ming
ZM
Wang
Min
M
D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2