Atrial apoptosis and fibrosis adversely affect atrial conduit, reservoir and contractile functions

Abstract

Atria exhibiting greater fibrotic and apoptotic burdens had impaired conduit, reservoir and contractile function, as evaluated by deformation imaging. Among patients with chronic LA volume overload, exposure to long-standing persistent AF induced more pronounced degrees of adverse atrial cellular remodelling. Strain-rate descriptors of atrial reservoir function harboured potential to predict atrial fibrosis and apoptosis.

Evaluation of left atrial function via two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with coronary artery ectasia

“…Our TDI findings with respect to septal and lateral mitral annuli are compatible with most previous studies. These findings confirm that LV systolic and diastolic functions constitute one of the major determinants of LA function …”

“…These findings confirm that LV systolic and diastolic functions constitute one of the major determinants of LA function. 36 The reservoir function of the LA is widely dependent on the systolic function of the LV. 20 In our study, the systolic function of the LV, as evaluated by TDI, was not statistically different between the CAE and control groups, which can explain our other findings.…”

Impaired Left Atrial Conduit Function in Coronary Artery Disease Patients With Poorly Controlled Diabetes: Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic Study

“…However, LV relaxation is not the sole determinant factor of LA conduit function . Indeed, there is evidence that LA structural changes can affect LA conduit function . Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that LA conduit function is related to fibrosis and apoptosis .…”

“…Indeed, there is evidence that LA structural changes can affect LA conduit function . Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that LA conduit function is related to fibrosis and apoptosis . Diabetes is also associated with fibrosis and apoptosis …”

CASP3 genetic variants and susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in Chinese Han population

“…These observations provide a potential explanation for the observed association between rs4647602 polymorphism and AF. This higher transcription may cause a higher tissue caspase-3 levels in the atrium, which subsequently causes increased apoptosis in the human atrial [15,16,[33][34][35], resulting in atrial fibrosis which is considered a fundamental mechanism in the perpetuation of AF [36,37]. However, it is possible that rs4647602 polymorphism might be a functionally neutral marker that is in linkage disequilibrium with a genetic variant of another gene adjacent to CASP3 gene, or with the true causative locus far away from the CASP3 gene, such as one of the variants identified from reported GWAS data [10].…”