This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Abstract: Lone Atrial Fibillation or primary atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia characterized by not being associated with heart disease. The etiology of lone atrial fibrillation remains poorly defined. Genetic, biochemical or hormonal factors may contribute to the development or perpetuation of atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this research proposal is to deliniate a research plan to collect blood and data from 500 subjects with lone atrial fibrillation and establish a gene bank registry over a two-year period. We will additionally use blood samples from 500 normal conrtrols taken from the GeneBank Repository at the Cleveland Clinic. The primary aim is to identify the molecular and proteomic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of lone atrial fibrillation. This may establish a novel mechanism by which genetic, biochemical or humoral factors might contribute to arrhythmias and thereby lead to targets for new therapies. This registry and bank of blood will be used for future research. The blood may be used to map and identify genes responsible for inherited human atrial fibrillation, as well as to identify new genetic, biochemical and humoral mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this arrhythmia. These studies are likely to improve our knowledge and understanding of lone atrial fibrillation and may establish a novel mechanism by which genetic, biochemical and humoral factors might contribute to this arrhythmia. Identification of disease genes could improve strategies that prevent the progression of atrial fibrillation to more persistent disease and prevent or reverse atrial structural modeling. Characterization of disease genes can potentially provide additional general insight into molecular mechanisms and pathogenic processes of human diseases and may point to new directions for future research. Along with the blood sample collected for subjects enrolled in this trial, we will collect general medical history, demographic data, electrocardiographic data, echocardiographic data and laboratory data for the registry.
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