Department for Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Szosa Bydgoska 13, 87-100 Torun, Poland.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Oct 28;24(21):15699. doi: 10.3390/ijms242115699.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in humans. AF is characterized by irregular and increased atrial muscle activation. This high-frequency activation obliterates the synchronous work of the atria and ventricles, reducing myocardial performance, which can lead to severe heart failure or stroke. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation depends largely on the patient's history. Cardiovascular diseases are considered aging-related pathologies; therefore, deciphering the role of telomeres and DNA methylation (mDNA), two hallmarks of aging, is likely to contribute to a better understanding and prophylaxis of AF. In honor of Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn's 75th birthday, we dedicate this review to the discovery of telomeres and her contribution to research on aging.
心房颤动（AF）是人类最常见的心律失常。AF 的特征是不规则和增加的心房肌肉激活。这种高频激活消除了心房和心室的同步工作，降低了心肌的性能，这可能导致严重的心力衰竭或中风。发生心房颤动的风险在很大程度上取决于患者的病史。心血管疾病被认为是与衰老相关的病变；因此，解析端粒和 DNA 甲基化（mDNA）的作用，这两个衰老的标志，可能有助于更好地理解和预防 AF。为了纪念伊丽莎白·布莱克本教授 75 岁生日，我们将这篇综述献给端粒的发现及其对衰老研究的贡献。
