<i>GJA1</i> Expression and Left Atrial Remodeling in the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). GJA1 gene encoding connexin43, a major protein in cardiac gap junctions, plays a crucial role in the synchronized contraction of the heart and in cardiac arrhythmia. However, little is known regarding the role of GJA1 expression in the incidence of AF in patients with OSAS. All prospectively enrolled OSAS patients underwent polysomnography, electrocardiography, a 24-h Holter test, and echocardiography. Moderate-to-severe OSAS was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15. Exosomes were purified from the plasma of all OSAS patients and incubated in HL-1 cells to investigate the effect of exosomes from patients with and without AF on GJA1 expression. A total of 129 patients were recruited for this study; 26 were excluded due to an AHI p GJA1 expression in HL-1 cells incubated with exosomes from OSAS patients with AF was lower than that with exosomes from patients without AF after controlling for age and sex and was negatively correlated with the AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI), especially during the non-rapid eye movement period (NREM) of OSAS patients with AF (all p GJA1 expression in HL-1 cells, which offers a hint that GJA1 may play a crucial role in the development of AF in patients with OSAS.

Keywords

• atrial fibrillation
• <i>GJA1</i>
• left atrial remodeling
• nocturnal oxygen desaturation
• obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• sleep efficiency