title: Identification of xanthurenic acid 8-O-beta-D-glucoside and xanthurenic acid 8-O-sulfate as human natriuretic hormones.
abstract: Hormonal regulation of salt excretion and water balance by the kidneys is well documented. Before 1961, it was widely believed that the glomerular filtration rate and the steroid hormone aldosterone controlled sodium balance in the body. In 1961, deWardener et al. [de Wardener HE, Mills IH, Clapham WF, Hayter CJ (1961) Clin Sci 21:249-258] showed that when these two variables were controlled, the kidney was still able to increase sodium excretion in response to a salt load. Several lines of evidence argued for a small-molecule signal as a definitive modulator of sodium excretion by the kidney. However, the chemical nature of the suspected natriuretic agent remained unknown. Here we report the identification and natriuretic activity of two closely related small molecules isolated from human urine, xanthurenic acid 8-O-beta-d-glucoside and xanthurenic acid 8-O-sulfate. The two compounds were partially purified by activity-guided fractionation and subsequently identified by using NMR spectroscopic analyses of enriched active fractions. Both compounds caused substantial and sustained (1- to 2-h) natriuresis in rats and no or minimal concomitant potassium excretion. We believe these compounds constitute a class of kidney hormones that also could influence sodium transport in nonkidney tissues given that these tryptophan metabolites presumably represent evolutionarily old structures.
authors.affiliation: Naturon Pharmaceutical Corporation, New Canaan, CT 06840, USA. chriscainphyto@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Stewart W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Shankel
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitchnick
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmertzler
authors.forename: Neal S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bricker
mesh_terms: D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D045283:Natriuretic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D013431:Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014977:Xanthurenates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; D045283:Natriuretic Agents; D013431:Sulfates; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; D014977:Xanthurenates; C526073:xanthurenic acid 8-O-sulfate; C028330:xanthurenic acid; C045676:xanthurenic acid 8-O-glucoside