Gene expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in patients with atrial fibrillation

Objective:To investigate the gene expression of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods:The right atrial tissue samples were taken from 75 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent heart valve replacement surgery.In which 34 patients were in sinus rhythm,11 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had chronic AF.The mRNA and protein level of bFGF was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical technique.Results:Compared to sinus rhythm group,the expression levels of mRNA and protein of bFGF significantly increased in the paroxysmal AF group and chronic AF group(P0.001 all),and the levels of mRNA and protein of bFGF significantly increased in chronic AF group compared with those of paroxysmal AF group(P0.05 all).The mRNA and protein level of bFGF was positively correlated with AF duration(r=0.330,P=0.005 and r=0.299,P=0.010,respective) and left atrial dimension(r=0.342,P=0.003 and r=0.285,P=0.015,respective).Conclusion:The increased level of bFGF gene expression in atrium could be involved in the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrosis during fibrillation,which might correlate with the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation.