title: The natriuretic peptides and their receptors.
abstract: Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is released from the cardiac atrium in response to stretch and acts through receptors to cause an increase in urinary flow and sodium excretion, vasodilatation, and a reduction in blood volume. Recently, two new natriuretic peptides, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (C-typeNP), have been isolated, and three different natriuretic peptide receptors have been identified. Two of the receptors, ANP-RGC(A) and ANP-RGC(B), mediate biologic actions. The natural ligand of ANP-RGC(A) is ANF, whereas that of ANP-RGC(B) is C-typeNP. In view of clear differences in ligand specificity and tissue distribution of these receptors, it has been proposed that ANF and its receptor, ANP-RGC(A), and C-typeNP and its receptor, ANP-RGC(B), represent two distinct natriuretic peptide regulatory systems. Whether a separate system exists that incorporates BNP awaits clarification of its natural receptor that mediates a biologic action. The third receptor, ANP-Rc, binds all three natriuretic peptides. Its messenger RNA lacks the guanylyl cyclase sequence present in the mRNA of the other natriuretic peptide receptors, suggesting that the principal function of ANP-Rc is to remove natriuretic peptides from the circulation, that is, to regulate plasma levels of the natriuretic peptides. However, ANP-Rc may also mediate a biologic effect. These findings raise several intriguing questions about the functional role of this family of natriuretic peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jamison
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canaan-Kühl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pratt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor