Ablation of NLRP3-inflammasome protected mice from age-related increased insulin sensitivity, reduced IGF-1 and leptin/adiponectin ratio levels, and reduced cardiac damage with protection of the prolongation of the age-dependent PR interval, which is associated with atrial fibrillation by cardiovascular aging and reduced telomere shortening.
IGF-1 levels and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios were significantly lower in individuals with AF than in those without AF (IGF-1: 104.2 ± 41.6 ng/mL vs 142.9 ± 53.5 ng/mL, P < .001 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3: 0.031 ± (0.009 ng/mL vs 0.036 ± 0.010 ng/mL, P = .006, respectively).
Down-regulated networks were the IGF-1 pathway and TGF-beta signaling pathway and a network involved in RNA-mediated gene silencing, suggesting for the first time that alteration of miRNAs in AF would also perturbate the whole miRNA machinery.
Low insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has been associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation in cross-sectional studies.