title: Expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel isoforms in a canine model of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of atrial hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel isoforms in the left atrial muscle of dogs with multiple organ failure. A total of 14 beagle dogs with multiple organ failure, including seven cases with sinus rhythm and seven cases with atrial fibrillation (AF), underwent surgery to remove a sample of left atrial appendage tissue. The expression levels of a number of HCN channel subtypes were subsequently measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The mRNA and protein expression levels of HCN2 and HCN4 increased significantly in the AF group when compared with the sinus rhythm group. However, expression of the HCN1 isoform was not detected. Therefore, increased expression levels of HCN2 and HCN4 may be important molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of AF, which were associated with differences in patients with valvular heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Pacing Electrophysiology Division, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Pacing Electrophysiology Division, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Pacing Electrophysiology Division, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tianyi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Pacing Electrophysiology Division, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Pacing Electrophysiology Division, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Baopeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: atrial electrical remodeling; atrial fibrillation; hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel; multiple organ failure