Spatial transcriptomic of EAT and Atrial appendage from patienst with Atrial Fibrillation

To examine biological changes and regionality dictating structural remodelling in Atrial Fibrillation, we performed NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) of tissue biopsies from AF and SR patients. Regions were selected from adipose tissue and atrail appendage tissue close or far apart from tissue interphase. AA tissue with surrounding EAT samples were selected from 4 patients of which 2 were from AF patients and 2 from SR patients. Freshly cut paraffin-embedded sample slides were sent to NanoString Technologies. Sample slides were deparaffinised and stained with fluorescent antibody markers to distinguish between the adipose tissue (FABP4) and cardiac tissue (troponin). Specific regions of interest (ROIs) were then pre-selected either side of the border zones of the AA/EAT and deep in the AA and deep in the EAT. Thus 4 ROIs were selected per slide in triplicates.