Expression and clinical significance of NFATc1, MAPK and CTGF in peripheral blood of patients with atrial fibrillation

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and clinical significance of nuclear factor of activated T cells c1(NFATc1), mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in peripheral blood of patients with atrial fibrillation.

MethodsA total of 139 patients with atrial fibrillation were selected as the atrial fibrillation group, and 105 healthy examinees with sinus rhythm were selected as the control group.The levels of NFATc1 and MAPK in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of CTGF in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by Western blotting.The blood biochemical indexes and cardiac color Doppler ultrasound indexes in the two groups were compared.The correlation between NFATc1, MAPK and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), left atrial diameter(LAD) was analyzed, and the risk factors of atrial fibrillation were explored.

ResultsThe levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, NFATc1, MAPK, CTGF and LAD in the atrial fibrillation group were higher than those in the control group(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and the level of LVEF was significantly lower than that in the control group(P < 0.01).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of serum NFATc1 and MAPK were significantly negatively correlated with LVEF(r=-0.195, -0.189, P < 0.01), and positively correlated with LAD(r=0.288, 0.244, P < 0.01).The binary logistic regression analysis showed that the increased levels of NFATc1, MAPK and LAD were the risk factors of atrial fibrillation(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe increase of serum NFATc1, MAPK and CTGF levels in patients with atrial fibrillation may be related to myocardial fibrosis.