Renal denervation alleviates chronic obstructive sleep apnea-induced atrial fibrillation via inhibition of atrial fibrosis and sympathetic hyperactivity.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that renal denervation (RDN) prevents the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the effect of RDN on chronic OSA (COSA)-induced AF is still unclear.

Methods: Healthy beagle dogs were randomized into the OSA group (sham RDN + OSA), OSA-RDN group (RDN + OSA), and CON group (sham RDN + sham OSA). The COSA model was built via repeated apnea and ventilation rounds for 4 h each day lasting 12 weeks, and RDN was employed after 8 weeks of modeling. All dogs were implanted Reveal LINQ™ to detect spontaneous AF and AF burden. Circulating levels of norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and interleukin-6 were determined at baseline and end of the study. In addition, measurements of the left stellate ganglion, AF inducibility, and effective refractory period were conducted. The bilateral renal artery and cortex, left stellate ganglion, and left atrial tissues were collected for molecular analysis.

Results: Of 18 beagles, 6 were randomized to each of the groups described above. RDN remarkably attenuated ERP prolongation and AF episodes and duration. RDN markedly suppressed the LSG hyperactivity and atrial sympathetic innervation, decreased the serum concentrations of Ang II and IL-6, further inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation via the TGF-β1/Smad2/3/α-SMA pathway, and reduced the expression of MMP-9, thus decreasing OSA-induced AF.

Conclusions: RDN may reduce AF by inhibiting sympathetic hyperactivity and AF in a COSA model.