The Therapeutic Potential of MicroRNAs in Atrial Fibrillation

Figure 1

Illustration of AF mechanisms. Reentrant activity and ectopic activity are contained within the pathogenesis. Both the structure and function of the atrial tissue will be altered after the normal heart is stimulated. A substrate for reentrant AF is created by atrial remodeling through the alteration of ion-channel function or the introduction of tissue fibrosis. The likelihood of ectopic activity can be increased by remodeling through the production of Ca²⁺ in cell handling, which can cause triggered activity. Abbreviations—EADs: early afterdepolarizations; DADs: delayed afterdepolarizations; AF: atrial fibrillation.