The significance of this research is that currently treatments to address AF are less than optimal. Antiarrhythmic drugs are variably effective and are associated with potentially lethal proarrhythmic side effects. The common treatment to prevent strokes in subjects with AF is chronic warfarin administration, but warfarin therapy requires frequent monitoring and adjustment of dose and is associated with bleeding complications. This research may provide the first new therapeutic strategy in many years for AF and the most serious consequence of AF, stroke.