MicroRNA expression signatures of atrial fibrillation: The critical systematic review and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Shen Nan-Nan , Zhang Chi , Li Zheng , Kong Ling-Cong , Wang Xin-Hua , Gu Zhi-Chun , Wang Jia-Liang 
Published: November 2019

Association between microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures and atrial fibrillation has been evaluated with inconsistent findings in different studies. This study aims to identify miRNAs that actually play vital role in pathophysiological process of atrial fibrillation and explore miRNA-targeted genes and the involved pathways. Relevant studies were retrieved from the electronic databases of Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Library to determine the miRNA expression profiles between atrial fibrillation subjects and non-atrial fibrillation controls. Robustness of results was assessed using sensitivity analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed based on species, miRNA detection method, sample source, and ethnicity. Quality assessment of studies was independently conducted according to QUADAS-2. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to explore the potential genes and pathways associated with atrial fibrillation, which were targeted by differentially expressed miRNAs. Form of pooled results was shown as log10 odds ratios (logORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and random-effects model was used. In total, 40 articles involving 283 differentially expressed miRNAs were reported. And 51 significantly dysregulated miRNAs were identified in consistent direction, with 22 upregulated and 29 downregulated. Among above-mentioned miRNAs, miR-223-3p (logOR 6.473; P < 0.001) was the most upregulated, while miR-1-5p (logOR 7.290; P < 0.001) was the most downregulated. Subgroup analysis confirmed 53 significantly dysregulated miRNAs (21 upregulated and 32 downregulated) in cardiac tissue, with miRNA-1-5p and miRNA-223-3p being the most upregulated and downregulated miRNAs, respectively. Additionally, miR-328 and miR-1-5p were highly blood-specific, and miR-133 was animal-specific. In the detection method sub-groups, miRNA-29b and miRNA-223-3p were differentially expressed consistently. Four miRNAs, including miRNA-223-3p, miRNA-21, miRNA-328, and miRNA-1-5p, were consistently dysregulated in both Asian and non-Asian. Results of sensitivity analysis showed that 47 out of 51 (92.16%) miRNAs were dysregulated consistently. Totally, 51 consistently dysregulated miRNAs associated with atrial fibrillation were confirmed in this study. Five important miRNAs, including miR-29b, miR-328, miR-1-5p, miR-21, and miR-223-3p may act as potential biomarkers for atrial fibrillation.

Impact statement

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered as the most common arrhythmia, and it subsequently causes serious complications including thrombosis and heart failure that increase the social burden. The definite mechanisms underlying AF pathogenesis remain complicated and unclear. Many studies attempted to discover the transcriptomic changes using microarray technologies, and the present studies for this hot topic have assessed individual miRNAs profiles for AF. However, results of different articles are controversial and not each reported miRNA is actually associated with the pathogenesis of AF. The present systematic review and meta-analysis identified that 51 consistently dysregulated miRNAs were associated with AF. Of these miRNAs, five miRNAs (miRNA-1-5p, miRNA-328, miRNA-29b, miRNA-21, and miRNA-223-3p) may act as novel biomarkers for AF. The findings could offer a better description of the biological characteristics of miRNAs, meanwhile might serve as new target for the intervention and monitoring AF in future studies.