In the present study, we also found that melatonin attenuated the effects of TNF-α on AF cell senescence, reflected by the increased cell proliferation potency and telomerase activity and decreased SA-β-Gal activity and protein expression of senescence markers (p16 and p53) of AF cells in the TNF-α+melatonin group. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is atrial fibrillation.