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The molecular mechanisms underlying the early development of atrial fibrillation (AF) remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests that abnormal epigenetic modulation via microRNAs (miRNAs) might be involved in the pathogenesis of paroxysmal AF (pAF).

To identify key molecular changes associated with pAF, we conducted state-of-the-art transcriptomic studies to identify the abnormal miRNA–mRNA interactions potentially driving AF development.

High-quality total RNA including miRNA was isolated from atrial biopsies of age-matched and sex-matched pAF patients and control patients in sinus rhythm (SR; n = 4 per group) and used for RNA-sequencing and miRNA microarray. Results were analyzed bioinformatically and validated using quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR and 3′UTR luciferase reporter assays.

113 genes and 49 miRNAs were differentially …