ACAN and atrial fibrillation: The mRNA levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-Associated X (Bax), aggrecan, and collagen type II was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), while their protein levels were determined by western blot assay.<h4>Results</h4>LPS induction remarkably inhibited NP cell proliferation (p < 0.001) and induced apoptosis (p < 0.001), which were significantly reversed by AF dose-dependently.