Domenico Corradi, Sergio Callegari, Roberta Maestri, David Ferrara, Domenica Mangieri, Rossella Alinovi, Paola Mozzoni, Silvana Pinelli, Matteo Goldoni, Ylenia Adelaide Privitera, Veronica Bartoli, Ettore Astorri, Emilio Macchi, Augusto Vaglio, Stefano Benussi, Ottavio Alfieri
INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in mitral regurgitation (MR) is a complex disease where multiple factors may induce left-atrial structural remodeling (SR). We explored the differential SR of the left-atrial posterior wall (LAPW) of patients affected by MR with or without persistent AF, and the expression of key proteins involved in its pathogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Light microscopy of LAPW samples from 27 patients with MR and persistent AF (group 1), 33 with MR in sinus rhythm (group 2), and 15 autopsy controls (group 3) was used to measure myocyte diameter, percentage of myocytolytic myocytes, interstitial fibrosis, and capillary density; RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to assess the mRNA and protein levels of SOD-1, SOD-2, HO-1, calpain, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and VEGF; immunofluorescence was used to locate these proteins...
March 2012: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology