title: Natriuretic peptides in the central nervous system: Novel targets for cognitive impairment.
abstract: Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are traditionally known as cardiac hormones with diuretic, natriuretic and blood pressure lowering properties. Evidence indicates that NPs and their receptors are abundant in the central nervous system, suggesting their involvement in regulation of various brain functions. It has been shown that NPs are involved in the regulation of neurovascular and blood-brain barrier integrity, neuro-inflammation, neuroprotection, synaptic transmission and brain fluid homeostasis. In addition, NPs might contribute to the brain's inhibitory control over the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Studies have also shown that high systemic levels of NPs are associated with cognitive impairment independent of cardiovascular risk factors. In this review we discuss the potential roles of NPs in regulating structural and functional integrity of the brain. Based on the available neurobiological and clinical evidence, we propose that NPs might represent as potential novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: s.mahinrad@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahinrad
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: A.J.M.de_Craen@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Anton J M
authors.initials: AJM
authors.lastname: de Craen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5200 Eastern Avenue, MFL Center tower, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States. Electronic address: syasar1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasar
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: D.van_Heemst@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Heemst
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: b.sabayan@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sabayan
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D002490:Central Nervous System; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D045265:Natriuretic Peptides
keywords: Central nervous system; Cognitive impairment; Natriuretic peptides