PITX2 Insufficiency Leads to Atrial Electrical and Structural Remodeling Linked to Arrhythmogenesis.

The article discusses a study which confirmed a high prevalence atrial fibrillation (AF)-associated risk variants in a small cohort of AF patients and that PITX2C expression is decreased in human patients with sustained AF. Atrial myocardial tissue samples were taken from patients undergoing cardiac surgery. It suggests a relationship between impaired Pitx2 function and distinct cellular, molecular and electrophysiological pathways that can increase susceptibility for atrial arrhythmogenesis.