Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase and growth-associated protein 43 in patients with atrial fibrillation of Uygur and Han nationality in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Objective To explore the mRNA and protein expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), in atrial fibrillation patients and sinus arrhythmia patients. Methods Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of TH, ChAT, and GAP43 in atrial tissues obtained from 45 patients in First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2011 to 2013. Results The expression of GAP43、ChAT and TH mRNA were significantly different between patients with sinus rhythm and patients with atrial fibrillation(GAP43: 30.37±0.13 vs.31.98±0.05; ChAT: 27.43±0.50 vs.27.50±0.67; TH: 22.95±0.62 vs.23.01±0.20,P<0.05). The expression of GAP43、ChAT and TH protein were significantly different between patients with sinus rhythm and patients with atrial fibrillation(GAP43: 0.88±0.02 vs.0.96±0.02; ChAT: 0.89±0.02 vs.0.93±0.05; TH: 0.96±0.04 vs.0.99±0.02,P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between Uygur and Han nationalities within each group. Conclusion Atrial remodeling of autonomic nerve may be one of the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. Key words: Atrial fibrillation; Tyrosine hydroxylase; Choline acetyltransferase; Growth-associated protein 43