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Updated: May 3, 2026
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
Relations between circulating microRNAs and atrial fibrillation: data from the Framingham Offspring Study
David D McManus1, Honghuang Lin2, Kahraman Tanriverdi3
1National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's and Boston University's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Massachusetts; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; Epidemiology Division, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Massachusetts.
Background:
MicroRNA (miRNA) expression in atrial tissue has been implicated in pathologic susceptibility to atrial fibrillation (AF). Nevertheless, data on how circulating levels relate to AF are limited.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that circulating miRNAs are associated with AF.
Methods:
Among 2445 Framingham Heart Study Offspring participants, we measured the expression of 385 circulating whole blood miRNAs by high-throughput quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We related miRNA levels with prevalent and new-onset AF.
Results:
Mean age of the cohort was 66.3 ± 8.9 years, and 56% were women; 153 participants had clinically apparent AF at baseline, and 107 developed AF during median follow-up of 5.4 years. miRNA-328 (miR-328) expression was lower among participants with prevalent AF (8.76 cycle threshold) compared to individuals with no AF (7.75 cycle threshold, P <.001). The association between miR-328 and prevalent AF persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and technical covariates (odds ratio 1.21, P = 1.8 × 10(-4)) but was attenuated in analyses adjusting for clinical AF risk factors (odds ratio 1.14, P = .017). In contrast to the associations between miR-328 and prevalent AF, none of the circulating miRNAs were associated with incident AF.
Conclusion:
Circulating levels of miR-328, a miRNA known to promote atrial electrical remodeling by reducing L-type Ca(2+) channel density, were associated with prevalent AF. Adjustment for risk factors that promote atrial remodeling, including hypertension, attenuated the association between miR-328 and AF, potentially implicating miR-328 as a potential mediator of atrial remodeling and AF vulnerability.
Insights
Lower levels of microRNA-328 (miR-328) in circulation are linked to prevalent atrial fibrillation (AF). This association suggests miR-328 may play a role in AF development and atrial remodeling.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) susceptibility is linked to atrial microRNA (miRNA) expression.
- Limited data exists on circulating miRNA levels in relation to AF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between circulating miRNAs and AF.
- To test the hypothesis that circulating miRNAs correlate with AF prevalence and incidence.
Main Methods:
- Measured expression of 385 circulating whole blood miRNAs in 2445 participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort.
- Related miRNA levels to prevalent and new-onset AF using high-throughput quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
Main Results:
- Lower miR-328 expression was observed in participants with prevalent AF compared to those without.
- The association between miR-328 and prevalent AF remained significant after adjustments for demographic and technical factors.
- No circulating miRNAs were found to be associated with incident AF.
Conclusions:
- Circulating miR-328 levels are associated with prevalent AF.
- The association was attenuated by adjustment for AF risk factors, suggesting miR-328 may mediate atrial remodeling.
- miR-328 may be implicated in AF vulnerability through its role in atrial electrical remodeling.
