Study on the association between TRAF3IP2 and atrial fibrillation
Objective To evaluate the association of TRAF3IP2 with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods A total of 41 patients experiencing valvular heart diseases who were admitted to the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June to December 2021 were enrolled,and they were divided into AF group(n=22)and non-AF group(n=19)based on whether AF was existed.Clinical data,whole blood and left atrial tissues of patients were collected.Then we analyzed the TRAF3IP2 levels and the degree of fibrosis(the content of collagen and a-SMA)of patients in the two groups.Results The left atrial diameters(LAD)and the expressions of TRAF3IP2 in AF group were significantly higher than those of non-AF group(both P<0.01).Besides,TRAF3IP2 expressions were linearly associated with the LAD(r=0.33,P=0.037).Stratified analysis showed that the TRAF3IP2 expressions were higher in AF group than non-AF group not only in patients with LAD ≤3.5 mm but also in patients with LAD>3.5 mm(both P<0.01).The Masson and immunohistological staining showed that levels of collagen content and TRAF3IP2 expression in AF group were higher than those in non-AF group,while Western blotting analysis suggested the expressions of TRAF3IP2 and α-SMA were higher in AF than in non-AF group.Conclusion Our data demonstrated an association between TRAF3IP2 and AF that the expressions of TRAF3IP2 in AF patients were higher than those in non-AF subjects,indicating an involvement of TRAF3IP2 in AF progression.