Exploratory Analysis of Circulating miRNA Signatures in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Determining Potential Biomarkers to Support Decision-Making in Anticoagulation and Catheter Ablation

Novel biomarkers are desired to improve risk management for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We measured 179 plasma miRNAs in 83 AF patients using multiplex qRT-PCR. Plasma levels of eight (i.e., hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-130a-3p, hsa-miR-140-5p, hsa-miR-143-3p, hsa-miR-148b-3p, hsa-miR-497-5p, hsa-miR-652-3p) and three (i.e., hsa-miR-144-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-194-5p) miRNAs showed positive and negative correlations with CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc scores, respectively, which also showed negative and positive correlations with catheter ablation (CA) procedure, respectively, within the follow-up observation period up to 6-month after enrollment. These 11 miRNAs were functionally associated with TGF-β signaling and androgen signaling based on pathway enrichment analysis. Seven of possible target genes of these miRNAs, namely TGFBR1, PDGFRA, ZEB1, IGFR1, BCL2, MAPK1 and DICER1 were found to be modulated by more than four miRNAs of the eleven. Of them, TGFBR1, PDGFRA, ZEB1 and BCL2 are reported to exert pro-fibrotic functions, suggesting that dysregulations of these eleven miRNAs may reflect pro-fibrotic condition in the high-risk patients. Although highly speculative, these miRNAs may potentially serve as potential biomarkers, providing mechanistic and quantitative information for pathophysiology in daily clinical practice with AF such as possible pro-fibrotic state in left atrium, which would enhance the risk of stroke and reduce the preference for performing CA.