MicroRNAs: New contributors to mechano-electric coupling and atrial fibrillation

• Published in: Progress in biophysics and molecular biology Vol. 159; pp. 146 - 156
• Main Authors: Ravelli, Flavia, Masè, Michela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial remodeling; Cardiac stretch; Mechano-electric feedback; microRNAs; Post-transcriptional regulation; microRNAs; Mechano-electric feedback; Post-transcriptional regulation; Atrial remodeling; Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac stretch
• ISSN: 0079-6107; 1873-1732
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.09.007

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a multifactorial disease, which often occurs in the presence of underlying cardiac abnormalities and is supported by electrophysiological and structural alterations, generally referred to as atrial remodeling. Abnormal substrates are commonly encountered in various conditions that predispose to AF, such as hypertension, heart failure, obesity, and sleep apnea, in which atrial stretch plays a key mechanistic role. Emerging evidence suggests a role for microRNAs (small non-coding RNAs) in the pathogenesis of AF, where they can act as post-transcriptional regulators of the genes involved in atrial remodeling. This review summarizes the experimental and clinical evidence that supports the role of microRNAs in the modulation of atrial electrical and structural remodeling with a focus on overload-induced atrial alterations, and discusses the potential contribution of microRNAs to mechano-electrical coupling and AF.