[Collagen type I and interleukin-1 beta gene expression in human atria during atrial fibrillation].

Objective To determine whether gene expression of collagen type Ⅰ and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β)is altered in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods Right atrial tissue samples were taken from 75 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent heart valve replacement surgery.34 patients had no history of AF,11 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had persistent AF.The mRNA content of collagen type Ⅰ and IL-1β was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Results The mRNA content of collagen type Ⅰ was significantly increased in the persistent AF group(P0.001)and increased in the paroxysmal AF group(P0.05)as compared with that in the sinus rhythm group.The mRNA content of IL-1β was up-reguated in the persistent AF group(P0.05),but the trend of increase did not reach statistical significance in the paroxysmal AF group(P0.05).The mRNA content of IL-1β was significantly correlated with the mRNA content of collagen type Ⅰ(r=0.295,P=0.011),left atrial dimension(r=0.385,P=0.001)and AF duration(r=0.326,P=0.004).Conclusion The upregulation of IL-1β gene expression in atrium may contribute to the atrial fibrosis during AF through influencing collagen metabolism.