Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40186485›Full record

ArticleEuropace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology2025

Mitochondrial damage mediates STING activation driving obesity-mediated atrial fibrillation.

Zhen Cao, Yuntao Fu, Yuanjia Ke, Yajia Li, Kexin Guo, Xiaojian Long, Yixuan Luo, Qingyan Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Burden and age-specific trends of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter from 1990 to 2023: a growing challenge among younger and middle-aged adults.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zhen CaoDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.
Yuntao FuDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.
Yuanjia KeDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.
Yajia LiDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.ORCID 0009-0006-0353-6689
Kexin GuoDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.
Xiaojian LongDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.
Yixuan LuoDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.
Qingyan ZhaoDepartment of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Rd, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430061, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9610-2452

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China to Qingyan Zhao 81970277
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsObesity is a significant risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanisms by which obesity contributes to AF are not fully understood. Recent studies have indicated that the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) signalling, mediated by mitochondrial damage, plays a crucial role in cardiac remodelling in various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to explore the role of STING in obesity-mediated AF and its potential mechanisms. METHODS AND

resultsIn this study, rats were divided into four groups: two groups received tail vein injections of AAV9-cTnT-STING siRNA and were fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks; the other two groups received injections of AAV9-cTnT-NC siRNA and were similarly fed either a normal diet or a HFD. The atrial STING signalling, AF vulnerability, electrical remodelling, and substrate remodelling were assessed in all groups. Results showed that the induction of AF was increased in obese rats, accompanied by severe mitochondrial damage and upregulation of the STING inflammatory signalling cascade. STING activation was associated with atrial fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and substrate remodelling, including alterations in the gap junction protein CX40 and ion channels. Additionally, STING was linked to excessive calcium transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria. Knockdown of STING prevented AF vulnerability and both electrical and substrate remodelling in obese rats.

conclusionMitochondrial damage-mediated activation of the STING signalling pathway promotes obesity-induced atrial remodelling and the occurrence of AF.

Indexed as

Atrial FibrillationMembrane ProteinsMitochondria, HeartMyocytes, CardiacObesityAction PotentialsAnimalsApoptosisAtrial RemodelingConnexinsDiet, High-FatDisease Models, AnimalFibrosisGap Junction alpha-5 ProteinHeart AtriaMaleConnexinsGap Junction alpha-5 ProteinMembrane ProteinsAtrial FibrillationInflammationMitochondrial DamageObesitySTING

Identifiers

PMID40186485
PMCPMC12022609

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.