Investigation of leukocyte gene expressions in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia caused by disorganized electrical activity in the atria, and it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. There is a limited data about Rho/Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway contribute to AF development. The aim of the present study was to elucidate leukocyte gene expressions in patients with non-valvular AF (NVAF). A total of 37 NVAF patients and 47 age and sex-matched controls were included in this study. mRNA was extracted from leukocytes, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for gene expression analysis. A marked increase in and gene expressions in patients with NVAF was observed (P<0.0001). The present study detected significant elevations in and gene expressions (P<0.01). However, there were marked decreases in , and gene expressions in patients with NVAF. No significant modifications were seen in the other Rho GTPase proteins and . To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to provide data that gene expression of leukocyte may contribute to the NVAF pathogenesis through activated leukocytes, which promotes the immune or inflammatory cascade.