Cardiac natriuretic peptides--hope or hype?
In recent years, biomedical science has witnessed the emergence of peptide biochemicals as significant topics of research. Some of these peptides are of little potential clinical use, while others, of which cardiac natriuretic peptides are an example, appear to be promising. This particular group of peptides (i.e. ANP, BNP and CNP) shows promising diagnostic as well as therapeutic potential for various pathological conditions. In the case of acute myocardial infarction, these peptides have significant diagnostic and predictive properties, more so than other biochemicals such as adrenaline, renin and aldosterone. In addition, ANP is found to have significant benefits over the classical anti-anginal drug glyceryl trinitrate. However, as is the case with other peptides, applying these benefits clinically may not be easy because of the structure of the compounds, but various strategies are now being applied to solve this problem. These include the use of non-peptide receptor ligands, inhibitors of ANP metabolism, gene therapy and so on. The development of drugs in clinical practice, which exploits the natriuretic peptides system therefore seems to be promising, and this article reviews advances in our understanding of these compounds.
Venugopal
J
J
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Strathclyde Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. joshi@medscape.com
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor