Natriuretic Peptides: The Case of Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Cardiac natriuretic peptides have long been known to act as main players in the homeostatic control of blood pressure, salt and water balance. However, in the last few decades, new properties have been ascribed to these hormones. A systematic review of English articles using MEDLINE Search terms included prostate cancer, inflammation, cardiac hormones, atrial natriuretic peptide, and brain natriuretic peptide. Most recent publications were selected. Natriuretic peptides are strongly connected to the immune system, whose two branches, innate and adaptive, are finely tuned and organized to kill invaders and repair injured tissues. These peptides control the immune response and act as anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory agents. In addition, in cancers, natriuretic peptides have anti-proliferative effects by molecular mechanisms based on the inhibition/regulation of several pathways promoting cell proliferation and survival. Nowadays, it is accepted that chronic inflammation is a crucial player in prostate cancer development and progression. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the link between prostate cancer and inflammation and the potential use of natriuretic peptides as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents.

Engineered hypoxia-responding Escherichia coli carrying cardiac peptide genes, suppresses tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo

“…Among them atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) prohormone is composed of four peptide hormones, named based on their sequence of amino acids beginning from N-terminal, which include long-acting natriuretic peptide (LANP) comprising the first 30 amino acids, vessel dilator (VD) comprising the 31–67 amino acids, kaliuretic peptide comprising 79–98 amino acids and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) comprising 99–126 amino acids of the prohormone [ 23 ]. Recently, it has been demonstrated that concentrations of CNPs are raised in different types of human carcinomas including invasive squamous cell carcinoma, malignant pericardial effusion, and small cell lung cancer and administration of CNPs at concentrations higher than physiologic ones [ 24 , 25 ]. In this context, four cardiac peptides were capable of inhibiting up to 97% of cancer cell’s growth in vitro.…”

Extracellular Vesicles from Human Advanced-Stage Prostate Cancer Cells Modify the Inflammatory Response of Microenvironment-Residing Cells

“…Stimuli such as urine reflux, uric acid crystals, and the prostate dysbiotic microbiome can indeed cause inflammation within the prostate, prompting prostate cancer [49]. IL-1β, one of the most abundant pro-inflammatory cytokines of the tumour microenvironment, and NLRP3-inflammasome activation have been involved in tumourigenesis and progression of PCa [1,49,50]. We have demonstrated that PC3-derived EVs (PC3-EVs), independently of a pro-inflammatory milieau, induce a pro-inflammatory response in non-cancerous PNT2 cells.…”

“…This hypothesis is strengthened by our findings that PC3 cells contain active NLRP3-inflammasome and secrete high IL-1β levels. IL-1β, together with NF-κB, has already been associated with the progression of PCa [1,50,51,52,53]. NF-κB activation in cancer cells leads to the amplification of the inflammatory response, sustaining the production of molecular mediators in the carcinogenic process [53].…”

Natriuretic Peptides Regulate Prostate Cells Inflammatory Behavior: Potential Novel Anticancer Agents for Prostate Cancer

“…The relationship between BNP and cancer-related inflammation is mainly confined to the evaluation of its plasma levels in cancer patients where its increase has been tentatively linked to cancer-related inflammation [27][28][29]. Therefore, the role of both ANP and BNP on cancer-related inflammation remains poorly investigated.…”