Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common arrhythmia that usually occurs in patients with heart disease, is one of the leading causes for mortality and disability worldwide. Current drug therapy for AF patients lacks sufficient efficacy and has side effects. Radiofrequency ablation is more effective than traditional drug therapy, but this invasive procedure is associated with potential risks and postoperative recurrence, limiting the clinical benefits for AF patients. Therefore, it is necessary to expand our understanding about the underlying molecular mechanism of AF and to explore the new therapeutic strategies. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a set of noncoding RNA longer than 200 nucleotides. Growing evidence indicates that lncRNA is involved in numerous pathophysiological processes of AF, such as structural remodeling, electrical remodeling, renin-angiotensin system, abnormal calcium regulation, etc. In addition, lncRNA involved in structural remodeling and electrical remodeling has the potential to be a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of AF, and lncRNA involved in autonomic nerve remodeling may bring new enlightenment for the prognosis and recurrence of AF.
心房纤颤(atrial fibrillation，AF)是一种常见的心律失常，通常发生于器质性心脏病患者，是临床上致死致残的重要原因。目前针对AF患者的药物治疗效果不佳，且存在不良反应。射频消融较传统的药物治疗更有效，但这种侵入性操作伴有潜在风险，且可能出现术后复发，在一定程度上限制了AF患者的临床获益。因此不断深化对AF分子机制的研究，并以之为基础挖掘出新的治疗策略已成为当前所需。长链非编码RNA(long noncoding RNA，lncRNA)是一类长度超过200 nt的非编码RNA，其在多水平调控基因表达。越来越多的证据表明lncRNA参与AF发生发展的诸多重要环节，如结构重塑、电重构、肾素-血管紧张素系统及钙调控异常等。参与结构重塑、电重塑等的lncRNAs可能成为AF诊断及治疗的靶标，而参与自主神经重构的lncRNAs可能为AF的预后及复发带来新的启示。.
Keywords: abnormal calcium regulation; atrial fibrillation; autonomic nerve remodeling; electrical remodeling; energy metabolism abnormality; long noncoding RNA; renin-angiotensin system; structural remodeling.