Therapeutic benefits of increasing natriuretic peptide levels

Abstract

Natriuretic peptides play an important role in water and salt homeostasis and in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. In recent years, exogenous administration of natriuretic peptides has primarily been used to improve our understanding of the role of natriuretic peptides. Also, it became evident that natriuretic peptides may be used therapeutically. Because of their peptide character, they cannot be administered orally and, therefore, may be used for short-term intravenous therapy only. In recent years, inhibitors of neutral endopeptidase, which degrades natriuretic peptides to inactive metabolites, have been investigated. This review focuses on the potential benefits of increasing natriuretic peptide levels, either through exogenous administration or inhibiting the degradation of endogenous natriuretic peptides.

Natriuretic Peptides in Septic Patients

“…Also, they relax vessels smooth muscle which causes the decrease of cardiac preload and afterload and a decrease of blood arterial pressure [26,27]. ANP and BNP also reduce noradrenergic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity [26,27].…”

“…Also, they relax vessels smooth muscle which causes the decrease of cardiac preload and afterload and a decrease of blood arterial pressure [26,27]. ANP and BNP also reduce noradrenergic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity [26,27]. Besides renal and vascular effects, natriuretic peptides affect the suprarenal cortex by decreasing secretion of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids [23,26,27].…”

“…ANP and BNP also reduce noradrenergic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity [26,27]. Besides renal and vascular effects, natriuretic peptides affect the suprarenal cortex by decreasing secretion of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids [23,26,27].…”

“…ANP exerts its hypotensive effect by the relaxation of resistance vessels, mainly precapillary arterial vessels and, to a lesser degree, extracapillary venous vessels [27]. Also, ANP suppresses venous return, reduces blood flow to the heart and decreases cardiac output.…”

Decrease of polyamine levels and enhancement of transglutaminase activity in selective reduction of B16-F10 melanoma cell proliferation induced by atrial natriuretic peptide

“…ANP and its receptors are expressed in different tissues besides the cardiovascular system, including the liver and immune system [10][11][12], suggesting that the hormone can also act as an autocrine/paracrine factor [13]. Interestingly, ANP has been identified as a protective factor in several pathophysiological conditions such as myocardial ischemia [14], atherosclerosis, hypertension and congestive heart failure [15]. In this contest, it has been reported [16] that the hormone at physiological concentrations (10 -10 mol/l) can inhibit vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell proliferation induced by mitogens, such as insulin or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), with a mechanism that involves the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase.…”