PB0025 - Collagen Remodeling, Inflammatory Biomarkers and Fatty Acid Regulation in Understanding the Molecular Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation

Sunday, June 25, 2023

18:30 – 19:30 ET

Room: Exhibition

Co-Author(s)

AO

Ameer Odeh

Medical student
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Emily Krupa, BS

BSc
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Co-Author(s)

Gabriel Dungan

Medical student
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois, United States
Fakiha Siddiqui, PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Loyola University Chicago, Health Sciences Division, Maywood, IL, USA.
Maywood, Illinois, United States
OI

Omer Iqbal

Doctor
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois, United States
LS

Lowell H. Steen

Professor
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. 1st Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Maywood, Illinois, United States
JF

Jawed Fareed, n/a

Professor
Loyola University Medical Center
MAYWOOD, Illinois, United States
MS

Mushabbar Syed

Doctor
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois, United States

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrythmia in the world. Structural remodeling, inflammatory pathways and fatty acid dysregulation are believed to play a role in the development of AF.

Aims: This study explored different biomarkers in the blood of AF patients and a control population to determine if there was a significant difference between the two groups.

Methods: Sandwich ELISA kits were used to quantify the collagen remodeling proteins, various inflammatory biomarkers and liver type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) in the clinically diagnosed AF population (n=78) and the control population (n=50). Non-stratified fatty acids (NEFAs) were measured using an enzymatic colorimetric kit from Wako Diagnostics. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism.

Results: We found significant upregulation in all the biomarkers in the AF cohort was noted in comparison to the control group. The collagen remodeling biomarkers included MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, PICP, PINP, PIIICP, PIIINP and ICTP. All the collagen remodeling biomarkers were significantly higher in AF patients compared to the control group. The inflammatory biomarker TNFa was also elevated in AF compared to the control group. The fatty acid dysregulation biomarkers, L-FABP and NEFAs, were elevated in AF patients as well. Spearman correlation analyses yielded significant correlations between L-FABP and TIMP-1 (r=0.47, p< 0.001), NEFA and TIMP-2 (r=0.41, p=0.002), NEFA and ICTP (r=0.41, p=0.002), and NEFA and PIIINP (r=0.61, p< 0.0001).

Conclusion(s): The elevation of all the collagen remodeling biomarkers indicates that there is an upregulation of collagen degradation and deposition in AF which could be contributing to atrial fibrosis. The higher TNFa levels indicate that inflammation could also play a role in the pathogenesis of AF. The correlations between the collagen remodeling biomarkers and fatty acid dysregulation biomarkers could be due to both being involved in structural remodeling of the atria.