title: Gender-specific remodeling in atrial fibrillation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors wanted to investigate whether the remodeling process in AF regarding gap junction proteins, collagen I, and amyloid may be gender dependent in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 123 patients with sinus rhythm (SR, n = 41) or atrial fibrillation (AF, n = 82) suffering from mitral valve disease undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Of the 123 patients, 66 patients (SR: n = 17, AF: n = 49) were investigated biochemically for the expression of the atrial gap junction proteins connexin40 (Cx40), connexin43 (Cx43) and collagen I and 57 patients (SR: n = 24; AF: n = 33) using histochemical methods for possible amyloid depositions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AF led to increased levels of Cx40, Cx43, and collagen I protein. Regarding Cx40 this upregulation was significantly higher in female than in male patients. For AF-induced changes in collagen or Cx43, there were no significant gender-dependent differences. Amyloid depositions were found with increasing age, but were not significantly related to AF or gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remodeling in AF seems to be similar in men and women, with a tendency for women exhibiting somewhat stronger AF-induced changes in Cx40, which is probably a secondary effect because there is nothing known about hormone sensitivity of the Cx40 promoter, and a not significant tendency for higher Cx43 and collagen I.
authors: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Centre Leipzig, Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Pfannmüller
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Boldt
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Reutemann
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Duerrschmidt
authors: Silke
authors: S
authors: Krabbes-Graube
authors: Friedrich-Wilhelm
authors: FW
authors: Mohr
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Dhein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000682:Amyloid / Q000032:analysis; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D024042:Collagen Type I; D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein; C500216:GJA1 protein, human