Study links 111 gene regions to atrial fibrillation
A genome-wide association study of >1,000,000 people identified 142 independent risk variants at 111 loci linked to atrial fibrillation. The research by Nielsen JB, Thorolfsdottir RB, Fritsche LG and colleagues evaluated 60,620 cases and 970,216 controls. It prioritized 151 functional candidate genes. Many variants fell near genes tied to serious human heart defects, such as GATA4, MYH6, NKX2-5, PITX2, and TBX5, or near genes vital for striated muscle function.
Analyses suggest candidate genes act through cardiac structural remodeling, potentially causing atrial cardiomyopathy during fetal development or adult heart stress.
Written by the Genomes desk from the primary source cited and linked above and checked against it. Research use only; not medical advice. Corrections: [email protected].