title: Dysregulation of pulsatility in aging IV. Pulsatile signaling and cardiovascular aging: functions and regulation of natriuretic peptide signaling.
abstract: Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) are cardiac hormones connecting heart and kidney and playing a key role in hydromineral and hemodynamic homeostasis. In contrast with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, circulating ANP and BNP are not temporally related with rapid eye movement (REM)-nonREM sleep cycles, autonomic activity, or blood pressure. Cardiac natriuretic peptides are secreted in a pulsatile manner, with short periods of 20-48min, in normal as well as in pathological conditions. The frequency of pulses seems to be unchanged with aging, whereas the absolute amplitude of the oscillations seems to increase, most likely as a result of an increase in the plasma hormone levels observed in elderly. Enhanced cardiac secretion and decreased degradation partly explain the higher ANP and BNP concentrations observed in elderly. Despite higher levels, the natriuretic system seems to loose efficiency at the renal site in elderly. This more probably relies on reduced target organ responsivity and not on deeply altered hormone secretion. Here we review the impact of aging on the renal effects of the natriuretic peptides, and point out the lack of knowledge on the precise interactions between the ultradian rhythms of the systems involved in salt and water balance in elderly. Additional studies focusing on potential age-induced alterations of the intracellular signaling pathway are now needed.
authors.affiliation: EA 3072, Institut de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine, et Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpitaux Universitaires, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg Cedex, France. Anne.Charloux@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charloux
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandenberger
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piquard
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geny
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor