Study About MRNA Expression Of Connexin 40 And Connexin 43 Between Left And Right Atrium In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Of Rheumatism

Objective: The purpose of the study is to investigate the mRNA expression levels of right and left appedenge connexin 40 and connexin 43 in human atrial sustained fibrillation, and to discuss the relationship with gap junction remolding in occurrence and persistence of AF. Methods: A total of 23 patients with rheumatic heart disease were collected. Atrial tissue was obtained from left and right appendages during open heart surgery. 23 samples of patients, including 9 case with SR and 14 case with sustained AF. The mRNA amount of the Cx40 and Cx43 genes was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain and normalized to the mRNA levels of the glyceraldehydes 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Results: The contents of Cx40 mRNA decrease apparently both in lefe and right appendages with AF, but their contents has not significant difference between lefe and right appendages.Furthermore,Cx43mRNA content was similar in all groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Gene expression of Cx40 in left and right atrial is down-regulated in sustained human atrial fibrillation, which might be a contributory factor for occurrence and persistence of AF.