Molecular Genetic Studies in Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is a complex disease. Its etiologies are diverse and genetic factors may also contribute to this disease. With the advent of modern molecular biology technology, it is now possible to explore the genetic components in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. Past molecular genetic studies on atrial fibrillation in the literature can be divided into linkage analysis studies and association studies. The subjects for linkage analysis studies are pedigrees of probands with Mendelian hereditary atrial fibrillation. The first locus identified for autosomal dominant atrial fibrillation locates at 10q22–q24. However, the exact gene is still unknown. Another linkage analysis study in Chinese revealed that LQT1 gene (I_Ks α-subunit) was the responsible gene. A missense mutation in the I_Ks α-subunit results in a gain of function, which is important in causing atrial fibrillation. The third known locus for familial atrial fibrillation locates at 6q14–16. The responsible gene remains still unknown. The other type of studies takes the case-control design (association studies) and the subjects have multigenic atrial fibrillation. In a study in a Japanese population, it was reported that the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism was not associated with atrial fibrillation. On the other hand, researchers in Taiwan reported that a nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism of the LQT5 gene (I_Ks β-subunit) is associated with atrial fibrillation. In summary, there is growing evidence showing that genetic factors are important in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. We expect that more genes responsible for or contributing to atrial fibrillation will be identified in the future and these will elucidate the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): CRD

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Cardiology

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.0008-6312

Title: Cardiology

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 0008-6312

ISSN (Electronic): 1421-9751

Publication date Subscription-year: 2003

Publication date (Print): November 2003

Publication date (Electronic): 21 November 2003

Volume: 100

Issue: 3

Pages: 109-113

Affiliations

^aInstitute of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University, ^bDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; ^cDivision of Cardiology, Texas Technical University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Tex., USA

Article

Publisher ID: 73910 Other ID: Cardiology 2003;100:109–113

DOI: 10.1159/000073910

PubMed ID: 14631130

Copyright statement: © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

License:

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Page count

Figures: 1, References: 28, Pages: 5

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Categories

Subject: Review