Relationship between cardiac transcription factor GATA4 and atrial fibrillation

GATA4 is a zinc fingercontaining transcriptional factor highly expressed in the heart and plays an important physiological role in cardiovascular development, myocardial remodeling and cellular apoptosis. Mutations in the GATA4 gene have been implicated in various kinds of congenital heart diseases. Recent studies demonstrated that GATA4 mutations also lead to atrial fibrillation (AF). In this paper the physiological function of GATA4 and its association with AF are reviewed for a better understanding of the novel molecular mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of AF and the early prophylaxis and personalized treatment of AF.