Abstract 15690: Statins as Potential Farnesoid X Receptor Modulators in Atrial Cardiomyocytes: A Gender, Age and miR328 Controlled Response

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays an important role in lipid and glucose metabolism and statins are known negative regulators of FXR expression. The role of FXR in atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been defined. MicroRNA-328 (miR-328) a small non-coding RNA contributes to adverse electrical remodeling in AF a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The present study aimed to examine the levels of FXR mRNA and miR328 in 30 consecutive patients undergoing CABG. The patients group was made up of 10 women and 20 men with a mean +/-SEM. age of 68.5+/-2.1 and 64.3+/-2.3 years respectively, 14 of them on statin therapy. We analyzed right atrial biopsies taken pre aortic occlusion and post reperfusion. Post reperfusion, mean (S.E.) FXR mRNA levels increased 3.41+/-1.07 fold (p