Epigenetic and Transcriptional Networks Underlying Atrial Fibrillation

Antoinette F van Ouwerkerk, Amelia W Hall, Zachary A Kadow, Sonja Lazarevic, Jasmeet S Reyat, Nathan R Tucker, Rangarajan D Nadadur, Fernanda M Bosada, Valerio Bianchi, Patrick T Ellinor, Larissa Fabritz, James F Martin, Wouter de Laat, Paulus Kirchhof, Ivan P Moskowitz, Vincent M Christoffels

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies have uncovered over a 100 genetic loci associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia. Many of the top AF-associated loci harbor key cardiac transcription factors, including PITX2, TBX5, PRRX1, and ZFHX3. Moreover, the vast majority of the AF-associated variants lie within noncoding regions of the genome where causal variants affect gene expression by altering the activity of transcription factors and the epigenetic state of chromatin. In this review, we discuss a transcriptional regulatory network model for AF defined by effector genes in Genome-wide association studies loci. We describe the current state of the field regarding the identification and function of AF-relevant gene regulatory networks, including variant regulatory elements, dose-sensitive transcription factor functionality, target genes, and epigenetic states. We illustrate how altered transcriptional networks may impact cardiomyocyte function and ionic currents that impact AF risk. Last, we identify the need for improved tools to identify and functionally test transcriptional components to define the links between genetic variation, epigenetic gene regulation, and atrial function.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)34-50
Number of pages17
JournalCirculation research
Volume127
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Jun 2020

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • genetic variation
  • genome-wide association study
  • myocytes, cardiac
  • transcription factors

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