title: Expression of NFkappaB, ICAM1, and VCAM1 in rheumatic heart disease with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the expression of nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) levels in rheumatic heart disease patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation and those who do not.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients with rheumatic heart disease were enrolled. Ten patients had no history of atrial fibrillation and 16 had atrial fibrillation. Atrial tissue was obtained from the right atrial appendage during heart surgery. The expression levels of NFkappaB, ICAM1, and VCAM1 were examined with immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Myocardial inflammation and fibrosis were both increased in patients with atrial fibrillation. The levels of NFkappaB, ICAM1, and VCAM1 were significantly elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation as compared with the control group (all p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of NFkappaB, ICAM1, and VCAM1 may be involved in the development and maintenance of atrial fibrillation in patients with rheumatic heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Lishui City Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Lishui, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiang-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Riley E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1