title: [Atrial natriuretic factor and pulmonary function].
abstract: The aim of this review is to provide a critical and concise discussion of present knowledge on the role of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in physiological as well as pathological pulmonary conditions. The lung contributes only to a small extent to the production of circulating ANF; on the other hand, the lung represents the major degrading site of the protein. Plasmatic ANF concentration increment during lung disease may therefore be due to a reduction in ANF plasma removal enzyme rather than to increased ANF production. Lung tissue shows more ANF receptor sites than any other organ. The effect of ANF on bronchial and pulmonary artery muscle lining is particularly evident. In fact ANF administration in asthmatic patients leads to bronchodilation comparable to dilation induced by salbutamol. Furthermore, elevated levels of circulating ANF seem to influence fluid redistribution through alveolar-capillary membrane leading to protein mobilization through the alveolar space. On the contrary, in the cardiomyopathic hamster ANF induces relevant guanylate cyclase activation before the animal has developed hemodynamic changes. Guanylate-cyclase activation may protect the lung through counteracting pulmonary edema formation, as shown by fluid reduction in alveolar spaces following pneumotoxic agents administration. This effect seems independent of natriuretic and hypotensive ANF effects.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Nardo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carbonari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagliari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizzoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peruzzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tallarida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor
vernacular_title: Fattore natriuretico atriale e funzione polmonare.