Long Non-Coding RNAs in Atrial Fibrillation: Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes as a Model System.
Emre BektikDouglas B CowanDa-Zhi WangPublished in: International journal of molecular sciences (2020)
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of sustained arrhythmia in humans often characterized by devastating alterations to the cardiac conduction system as well as the structure of the atria. AF can lead to decreased cardiac function, heart failure, and other complications. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in the cardiovascular system, including AF; however, a large group of lncRNAs is not conserved between mouse and human. Furthermore, AF has complex networks showing variations in mechanisms in different species, making it challenging to utilize conventional animal models to investigate the functional roles and potential therapeutic benefits of lncRNAs for AF. Fortunately, pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) offer a reliable platform to study lncRNA functions in AF because of certain electrophysiological and molecular similarities with native human CMs. In this review, we first summarize the broad aspects of lncRNAs in various heart disease settings, then focus on their potential roles in AF development and pathophysiology. We also discuss current uses of PSCs in AF research and describe how these studies could be developed into novel therapeutics for AF and other cardiovascular diseases.
Keyphrases
- atrial fibrillation
- long non coding rna
- catheter ablation
- heart failure
- oral anticoagulants
- left atrial
- left atrial appendage
- direct oral anticoagulants
- stem cells
- endothelial cells
- cardiovascular disease
- poor prognosis
- left ventricular
- pulmonary hypertension
- risk assessment
- mitral valve
- coronary artery disease
- transcription factor
- metabolic syndrome
- type diabetes
- risk factors
- pluripotent stem cells
- cardiovascular risk factors
- cardiac resynchronization therapy
- case control
- acute heart failure