Osteoprotegerin-RANK-RANKL axis in stabilization of spontaneously restored sinus rhythm in persistent atrial fibrillation patients after valve surgery with concomitant modified maze procedure
ANG Jian1, TAN Yong-fei1, CAO Hai-long2, DAI Ting3, JIANG Guo-jun1, WANG Hong-min1, SHI Guo-zhen1
(1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Affiliated Yixing Hospital of Jiangsu University, Yixing Jiangsu 214200; 2. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Nanjing Jiangsu 210008; 3. Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Yixing Hospital of Jiangsu University, Yixing Jiangsu 214200, China )
Abstract：Objective： To investigate whether osteoprotegerin(OPG)-receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK)-RANKL axis is associated with the stabilization of spontaneously restored sinus rhythm in persistent atrial fibrillation(AF) patients after valve surgery with concomitant modified maze procedure. Methods：Clinical data of the 65 patients with heart valvular disease and persistent AF, who underwent modified maze procedure and concomitant cardiac valve replacement, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Based on the clinical follow-up outcomes at month 3 after surgery, all the patients were divided into AF recurrence group (n=39) and non recurrence group(n=26), respectively. A comparison was made between the two groups by western blotting, immunohistochemical and Masson′s trichrome staining. Results：The expression of RANK and RANKL and RANKL/OPG ratio in the LAA tissues were significantly higher in recurrence group than group with no recurrence, and the magnitude of elevation was consistent with the degree of fibrosis. Moreover, the expression of RANKL and the RANKL/OPG ratio were positively correlated with the degree of fibrosis in AF recurrence group. Conclusion：OPG-RANK-RANKL axis may play an important role in stabilization of spontaneously restored sinus rhythm in persistent atrial fibrillation patients after valve surgery with concomitant modified maze procedure.
［Key words］osteoprotegerinRANKRANKL axis; heart valvular disease; atrial fibrillation; modified maze procedure; sinus rhythm
2016, Vol. 26 
