Remodeling of Kv1.5 channel in right atria from Han Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in rheumatic heart diseases (RHD) is very high and increases with age. Occurrence and maintenance of AF are very complicated process accompanied by many different mechanisms. Ion-channel remodeling, including the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.5, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of AF. However, the changes of Kv1.5 channel expression in Han Chinese patients with RHD and AF remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the Kv1.5 channels of the right atria may be altered with RHD, age, and sex to contribute to AF.


METHODS
Right atrial appendages were obtained from 20 patients with normal cardiac functions who had undergone surgery, and 26 patients with AF. Subjects were picked from 4 groups: adult and aged patients in normal sinus rhythm (SR) and AF. Patients were divided into non-RHD and RHD groups or men and women groups in normal SR and AF, respectively. The expression of Kv1.5 protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) were measured using Western blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, respectively.


RESULTS
Compared with the SR group, the expression of Kv1.5 protein decreased significantly in the AF group. However, neither Kv1.5 protein nor KCNA5 mRNA had significant differences in adult and aged groups, non-RHD and RHD group, and men and women group of AF.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of Kv1.5 channel protein changes with AF but not with age, RHD, and sex in AF.
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Xian-hong
XH
Ou
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Miao-ling
ML
Li
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Rui
R
Liu
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Xin-rong
XR
Fan
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Liang
L
Mao
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Xue-hui
XH
Fan
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Yan
Y
Yang
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan, China (mainland).
Xiao-rong
XR
Zeng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
C496981:KCNA5 protein, human; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel; D012333:RNA, Messenger