The roles of long noncoding RNAs in atrial fibrillation

Ozal Beylerli; Jiaming Ju; Aferin Beilerli; Ilgiz Gareev; Alina Shumadalova; Tatiana Ilyasova; Yunlong Bai; Baofeng Yang

doi:10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.08.004

The roles of long noncoding RNAs in atrial fibrillation

Noncoding RNA Res. 2023 Aug 7;8(4):542-549. doi: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.08.004. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Ozal Beylerli¹, Jiaming Ju², Aferin Beilerli³, Ilgiz Gareev⁴, Alina Shumadalova⁵, Tatiana Ilyasova⁶, Yunlong Bai¹, Baofeng Yang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
² Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern China, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tyumen State Medical University, 54 Odesskaya Street, 625023, Tyumen, Russia.
⁴ Central Research Laboratory, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 3 Lenin Street, 450008, Russia.
⁵ Department of General Chemistry, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 3 Lenin Street, 450008, Russia.
⁶ Department of Internal Diseases, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450008, Russia.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that often occurs in patients with structural heart disease and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in clinical settings. AF is typically associated with significant changes of both the structure of the atria and the cardiac conduction system. AF can result in reduced heart function, heart failure, and various other complications. Current drug therapy for AF patients is often ineffective and may have adverse effects. Radiofrequency ablation is more effective than traditional drug therapy, but this invasive procedure carries potential risks and may lead to postoperative recurrence, limiting the clinical benefits to some extent. Therefore, in-depth research into the molecular mechanisms of AF and exploration of new treatment strategies based on research findings are prerequisites for improving the treatment of AF and the associated cardiac conditions. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new class of noncoding RNA (ncRNAs) with a length exceeding 200 nt, which regulate gene expression at multiple levels. Increasing evidence suggests that lncRNAs participate in many pathological processes of AF initiation, development, and maintenance, such as structural remodeling, electrical remodeling, renin-angiotensin system anomalies, and intracellular calcium deregulation s. LncRNAs that play key roles in structural and electrical remodeling may become molecular markers and targets for AF diagnosis and treatment, respectively, while lncRNAs critical to autonomic nervous system remodeling may bring new insights into the prognosis and recurrence of AF. This review article provides a synopsis on the up-to-date research findings relevant to the roles of lncRNAs in AF.

Keywords: Abnormal calcium regulation; Atrial fibrillation; Autonomic nerve remodeling; Electrical remodeling; Energy metabolism abnormality; Long noncoding RNA; Renin-angiotensin system; Structural remodeling.