Pathogenetic mechanisms of human atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation

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Atrial fibrosis has been shown to concur with the persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and is only incompletely reversible thus counteracting attempts to restore and maintain sinus rhythm (SR). Besides the angiotensin system, the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) pathway and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a major role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. The present study investigated changes of the TGF-ß and MMP system during the development of human AF.