TGF-Beta Signaling Pathways in the Study of Expression in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Tissue

Objective: To explore the relationship between TGF-beta signaling pathway and atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valve disease, and reveal the mechanism of TGF-beta signaling pathway in development of atrial fibrillation. Methods: Firstly, the fibrosis extent of right atrial appendage tissues were tested by Masson’s trichrome staining. Secondly, the protein expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta RI, RII, RIII, P-Smad2/3, Smad2/3, Smad4, Smad7, TAK1, p38, ATF-2 were tested by Western blot. Results: There were significant difference between atrial fibrillation group and control group in fibrosis extent and the diameter of left atria (p0.05). The patients with atrial fibrillation are associated with the more serious fibrosis and larger diameter of left atria. For further study, the Western bolt results reveal that protein expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 were significant higher in atrial fibrillation and sever fibrosis group, other factors were no difference between trial and control group. Conclusion: There are severing atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation patients with mitral valve diseases. The over expression of TGF-beta1 and Smad4 maybe is an important reason that induces atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation, and the atrial fibrosis appears to play a role in the development of atrial fibrillation. Fibrosis response by TGF-beta1 initiating maybe only depends on mutations of the TGF-beta Smad signaling pathway.