title: Vasoprotective actions of the atrial natriuretic peptide.
abstract: The Natriuretic Peptide (NP) family, especially its best-characterized member Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure homeostasis and salt and water balance. Besides their action in cardiovascular physiology, NPs have been described as anti-inflammatory regulators of macrophage function: they have been reported to inhibit the induction of inflammatory mediators, such as iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-alpha. In the following review we will focus on a rather novel aspect of NP action: NPs, especially ANP, will be presented as vasoprotective agents. We will specifically focus on ANP's interaction with the complex intracellular signalling networks responsible for proliferation, vascular permeability, attraction and adhesion of leukocytes, and the induction of cytoprotective proteins. We will also discuss the critical mediator systems involved in mediating ANP's beneficial actions. Recently, ANP as well as BNP, another member of the NP family, have been introduced as cardiovascular therapeutics. In this context, we will highlight the physiological and pharmacological relevance of NPs, particularly ANP, as endogenous vasoprotective agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Center of Drug Research, University of Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany. kiemer@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Alexandra K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kiemer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: Angelika M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vollmar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000502:physiology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007960:Leukocyte Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D006152:Cyclic GMP