Atrial fibrillation (AF) produces rapid changes in the electrical properties of the atria (electrical remodelling) that promote its own recurrence. In chronic AF (CAF) patients, up-regulation of the slow delayed rectifier K⁺ current (I_Ks) and down-regulation of the voltage-gated Ca²⁺ current (I_Ca,L) are hallmarks of electrical remodelling and critically contribute to the abbreviation of action potential duration and atrial refractory period. Recent evidences suggested that Pitx2c, a bicoid-related homeodomain transcription factor involved in directing cardiac asymmetric morphogenesis, could play a role in atrial remodelling. However, its effects on I_Ks and I_Ca,L are unknown.

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that Pitx2c mRNA expression was significantly higher in human atrial myocytes from CAF patients than those from sinus rhythm patients. The expression of Pitx2c was positively and negatively correlated with I_Ks and I_Ca,L densities, respectively. Expression of Pitx2c in HL-1 cells increased I_Ks density and reduced I_Ca,L density. Luciferase assays demonstrated that Pitx2c increased transcriptional activity of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 genes. Conversely, its effects on I_Ca,L could be mediated by the atrial natriuretic peptide.

Our results demonstrated for the first time that CAF increases Pitx2c expression in isolated human atrial myocytes and suggested that this transcription factor could contribute to the CAF-induced I_Ks increase and I_Ca,L reduction observed in humans.