Roles of M3 receptor and Cx43 in human atrial fibrillation
LI Shuo
ZHONG Guo-qiang
HE Yan
XIAO Fei
JIANG Zhi-yuan
MENG Zi-zi
Abstract：Objective To investigate the potential roles of M 3 receptor and connexin 43 ( Cx43 ) in the occurrence and maintenance of human atrial fibrillation ( AF) and the relationship between them .Methods The right atrial tissues were obtained from 94 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery , and then were divided into group AF (n=49), and sinus rhythm group (group SR, n=45).The co-localization of M3 receptor and Cx43 was detected by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy .The expression levels of M3 receptor and Cx43 protein were measured by Western blotting.Results Compared with group SR, the expression levels of M3 receptor and Cx43 protein were signifi-cantly down-regulated (P<0.05), while the co-localization of M3 receptor and Cx43 were enhanced in the group AF (P<0.05).Conclusions The down-regulation of Cx43 in the right atrial tissues of AF patients may be one of the mechanisms of occurrence and maintenance of AF , and the decrease of M3's expression and increase of co-localization of M3 receptor and Cx43 may be the protective mechanisms of preventing atrial electrical remodeling produced by cardiomyocytes .
Keywords：atrial fibrillationM3 receptorconnexin 43
Publication Date：2014-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 18-21 )