Human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) fragments ANP-(127-150) or ANP-I11 and ANP-(127-149) or ANP-I1 activate Na+/H+ exchange in human erythrocytes at concentrations as low as 1 pM. Both ANP-(127-147) or ANP-I and ANP-(129-150) or des-Ser5, Ser6-ANP-I11 have no effect on erythrocyte Na+/H+ exchange. ANP-I11 also produces a time-dependent increase of intraerythrocyte guanosine 3',5'-phosphate (cGMP) Concentration. M&B 22,948, a specific inhibitor of cGMP phosphodiesterase, increases Na+/H+ exchange and the intracellular concentration of cGMP. Both 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-phosphate (8-Br-cGMP) and dibutyryl-cGMP mimic the effect of ANP-I11 on erythrocyte Na+/H+ exchange. Our data suggest that human erythrocytes possess guanylate-cyclase activity stimulated by ANP-I11 and that activation of Na+/H+ exchange by this peptide is mediated by cGMP. Human erythrocytes display a high degree of sensitivity to ANP-I11 or ANP-I1 and a specificity for ANP-fragment structures just as cells with established ANP-specific receptors.Atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) act on the Na+/H+-exchange rate in cells, which contain specific ANP receptors, through the elevation of intracellular guanosine 3',5'-phosphate (cGMP) concentration (Semrad et al., 1990) or via a cGMP-independent pathway (Gupta et al., 1989). Semrad et al. (1990) have reported a cGMP-mediated inhibition of the Na+/H+-exchange rate by ANP in chicken enterocytes, whereas Gupta et al. (1989) found a cGMP-independent stimulation of the Na+/H+-exchange rate in rabbit aorta segments.Specific receptors for ANP fragments in human erythrocytes have not been determined. There is also controversy whether or not intracellular cGMP synthesis occurs. Indeed, cholinergic agonists stimulate (Tang et al., 1984) or do not affect (Sekar and Hokin, 1986) cGMP production, and guanylate-cyclase activity has not been determined (Bohme et al., 1974) in human erythrocytes. Basal intraerythrocyte cGMP concentration is attributed to its passive uptake (deBari and Bennun, 1982). In the present study we report that human (h)ANP-I11 increases both Na+/H+ exchange and intracellular cGMP concentration in human erythrocytes. Its effect is mimicked by 8-Br-cGMP or dibutyryl-cGMP. The effects of other hANP fragments (ANP-11, ANP-I, des-Ser5, Ser6-ANP-111) on the Na+/H+ exchange depend on their molecular structures.Correspondence to P. Lijnen, Hypertension Unit, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, BelgiumAbbreviations. ANP, atrial natriuretic peptide ; cGMP, guanosine 3',S'-phosphate; iBuMeXan, 3-isobutyl-I-methylxanthine; M&B 22,948, 2-O-propoxyphenyl-8-azapurin-6-one; 8-Br-cGMP, 8-bromo-guanosine 3',5'-phosphate; ANF, atrial natriuretic factor; h, human.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Erythrocyte preparationBlood from healthy donors was drawn into heparinized tubes and centrifuged at 2000 g for 7 min at 4°C. The plasma and buffy coat were removed by aspiration, and the erythrocytes were then washed four times with an ice-cold solution consisting of 150 mM KC1,0.15 mM MgC1, and 10 mM glucose. The ...