Role of miRNA-21 expression in profibrillatory fibrotic remodeling and atrial fibrillation occurrence

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical practice and is associated with pronounced morbidity and mortality. It was demonstrated that AF is associated with altered miRNA levels in atrial tissue and plasma. The regulatory function of specific miRNAs has been studied in the structural and electrical remodeling underlying AF, ischemic heart disease, cardiac hypertrophy, ion channel modification and extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. Furthermore, circulating miRNAs associated with AF could serve as potential biomarkers of the disease, whereas specific tissue miRNAs could become targets for therapy. Although treatment of AF has sub stantially advanced in recent years, numerous problems re main, and a fundamental breakthrough has not been made in the treatment of AF. *Correspondence to: Yanmin XU, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular disease, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, PR China, Tel: 0086-13702029695; Fax: 0086-22-88328119; E-mail: xuyanminphdmd@sina.com