Atrial appendage miRNA-seq in non-, paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation

ABSTRACT: MiRNAs regulate posttranscriptional gene expression and are widely implicated in the pathogenesis of complex diseases. We aim to elucidate miRNA regulation of the atrial mRNA signatures that associate with AF. This may provide novel mechanistical insights and candidate targets for therapies using miRNA mimics or antimiRs. We present combined miRNAs-mRNAs sequencing in atrial tissues of patient without AF (n=22), with paroxysmal AF (n=22) and with persistent AF (n=20). MiRNA and mRNA signatures followed an ordinal scale from nonAF to paroxysmal to persistent AF patients. The previously reported mRNA sequencing identified 5228 differentially expressed genes involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition, endothelial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix remodelling involving collagens, glycoproteins and proteoglycans. We discovered 103 differentially expressed miRNAs. Key downregulated miRNAs included miR-135b-5p, miR-138-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-3p and miR-31-5p and key upregulated miRNAs were miR-144-3p, miR-15b-3p, miR-182-5p miR-18b-5p, miR-4306 and miR-206. The expression levels of differentially expressed miRNAs were negatively correlated with the expression levels of their predicted target mRNAs. The downregulated miRNAs demonstrated a more profound transcriptome effect than the upregulated miRNAs. Upregulated biological processes enriched in miRNAs targets related to epithelial and endothelial cell migration and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, in line with the processes discovered by the mRNA sequencing analysis. Combined analysis of miRNA and mRNA sequencing uncovered miRNAs with a broad transcriptional effect in human AF. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition and endothelial cell proliferation were processes controlled by downregulated miR-135b-5p, miR-138-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-200b-3p and miR-31-5p, which in turn may contribute to (myo)fibroblast activation and structural remodeling.\

PROVIDER: EGAS00001005296 | EGA |

REPOSITORIES: EGA