Differential Expression Profiles and Bioinformatics Analysis of tRNA-derived Small RNAs in Epicardial Adipose Tissue of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrythmia, but the potential molecular indicators involved in structural and electronical remodeling remains to be clarified. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a visceral fat depot surrounding the heart, is increasingly recognized to be metabolically active and has been proposed with an arrthymogenicity nature. It is able to secret a myriad of bioactive molecules, including exosomes carrying tRNA derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). Accumulating findings have suggested that these specific tsRNAs dynamically impact fundamental cellular processes, but there are no studies discovering the association between tsRNAs of EAT and AF, and their interactions and potential signaling pathways remain to be elucidated. Epicardial adipose samples collected from patients with persistent non-valvular AF (n=6) and sinus rhythm (n=6) were profiled using RNA-sequencing on the Illumina NextSeq 500 system using NextSeq 500/550 V2 kit (#FC-404-2205, Illumina). Please note that SSF and SYL are patients with sinus rhythm and heart failure, ZYQ is a patient with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.