title: Increased expression of NF-AT3 and NF-AT4 in the atria correlates with procollagen I carboxyl terminal peptide and TGF-β1 levels in serum of patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice. Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms and sensitive serum biomarkers of atrial remodeling in AF remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of the transcription factors NF-AT3 and NF-AT4 correlate with atrial structural remodeling of atrial fibrillation and serum markers for collagen I and III synthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Right and left atrial specimens were obtained from 90 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery. The patients were divided into sinus rhythm (n = 30), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n = 30), and persistent atrial fibrillation (n = 30) groups. NF-AT3, NF-AT4, and collagen I and III mRNA and protein expression in atria were measured. We also tested the levels of the carboxyl-terminal peptide from pro-collagen I, the N-terminal type I procollagen propeptides, the N-terminal type III procollagen propeptides, and TGF-β1 in serum using an enzyme immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NF-AT3 and NF-AT4 mRNA and protein expression were increased in the AF groups, especially in the left atrium. NF-AT3 and NF-AT4 expression in the right atrium was increased in the persistent atrial fibrillation group compared the sinus rhythm group with similar valvular disease. In patients with AF, the expression levels of nuclear NF-AT3 and NF-AT4 correlated with those of collagens I and III in the atria and with PICP and TGF-β1 in blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support the hypothesis that nuclear NF-AT3 and NF-AT4 participates in atrial structural remodeling, and that PICP and TGF-β1 levels may be sensitive serum biomarkers to estimate atrial structural remodeling with atrial fibrillation.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: ShiJiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: YiJiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: WeiDong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: BuQing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou RoadJiangsu Province, Nanjing 210029, China. shaoyongfeng6708@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: YongFeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: YanHu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: JianWei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D064752:Atrial Remodeling; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C494008:NFATC3 protein, human; C494010:NFATC4 protein, human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide