title: Roles of guanylyl cyclase--a signaling in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are cardiac hormones synthesized in and secreted from the heart. ANP and BNP bind the common receptor guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) and possess biological actions. Based on their diuretic, natriuretic, and vasodilating activities, they are now widely used as therapeutic agents for heart failure. Roles of endogenous ANP and BNP have been investigated using mice lacking the gene encoding GC-A. Here we describe the recent understanding of roles of GC-A in the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan. yssaito@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Kazuwa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; C091715:atrial natriuretic factor receptor A