Premium
Platelet‐predominate gene expression and reticulated platelets in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: Effect of pulmonary veins isolation
Author(s) -
Wysokinski Waldemar E.,
Tafur Alfonso,
Wu Yanhong,
Ammash Naser,
Asirvatham Samuel J.,
GoskBierska Izabela,
Grill Diane E.,
Slusser Joshua P.,
Mruk Jozef,
McBane Robert D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/jce.13438
Subject(s) - platelet , atrial fibrillation , medicine , gene , gene expression , sinus rhythm , flow cytometry , andrology , cardiology , immunology , biology , biochemistry
Reticulated platelet (RP) content is increased in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The purpose of this study was to determine if platelet content, morphology, and RP proportion are modulated by platelet genes. Methods and results Expression of six platelet‐predominate genes impacting platelet formation and release, platelet count, and RP content was assessed in NVAF patients before and 3–4 months after pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) and compared to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) controls. RNA from isolated platelets was reverse‐transcribed assayed against selected genes utilizing real‐time qPCR, and expressed as mean cycle threshold (ΔCt) using beta‐2‐microglobulin as endogenous control. RP content was assessed by flow cytometry. A fourfold lower expression of CFL1 gene coding for nonmuscle cofilin (7.8 ± 0.9 vs. 5.7 ± 1.6, P < 0.001) and twofold lower expression of four other genes were associated with similar platelet counts but fourfold higher (28.7+7.0 vs. 6.7+5.4, P < 0.001) RP content (%) in 97 NVAF cases compared to 51 NSR controls. Three to 4 months after PVI, RP decreased by 28%, while CFL1 gene expression increased over twofold but TUBA4A gene expression decreased almost twofold; NFE2 and MYL6 gene expression remained unchanged. Conclusions NVAF is associated with notable downregulation of genes directing platelet production and size but increased RP content. PVI impacts the expression of many of these genes, implying a direct relationship between atrial fibrillation and platelet biogenesis.