Presence of C-type natriuretic peptide in cultured human endothelial cells and plasma

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) immunoreactivity in cultured human vascular endothelial cells and in human plasma. CNP immunoreactivity was present in cultured human aortic endothelial cells by both immunohistochemical staining and by radioimmunoassay. With the utilization of gel permeation chromatography, this immunoreactivity proved to be consistent with the higher molecular weight CNP-53. CNP immunoreactivity was also present in human plasma (n = 22) at low picogram concentrations (6.5 +/- 0.2 pg/ml) by specific radioimmunoassay. This immunoreactivity was consistent with the lower molecular weight CNP-22 by gel permeation chromatography. These findings suggest that the vascular endothelium may be the site of CNP production. The isolation of different molecular forms of CNP in tissue and plasma may be consistent with a storage form of the peptide in endothelial cells CNP-53, while CNP-22 circulates in plasma. In summary, the present study is consistent with CNP being a peptide of endothelial cell origin.

Sex differences in vascular function: implication of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor

“…This peptide belongs to a family of structurally similar vasoactive peptides that have vasodilator and diuretic actions and play an important role in maintenance of blood volume and blood pressure (Levin et al 1998, Fowkes & McArdle 2000, Scotland et al 2005a). This peptide is widely expressed throughout the vasculature, being found in particularly high concentrations in vascular endothelial cells (Stingo et al 1992) where it plays a role in the local regulation of vascular tone. Its biological effects are mediated not only via natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-B (in a cGMP-dependent manner), but also via NPR-C, which is classically termed a 'clearance receptor' that removes natriuretic peptides from the circulation.…”

Increased C-type natriuretic peptide mRNA expression in the kidney of diabetic rats

“…Though initially identified in porcine brain (Sudoh et al 1990), CNP immunoreactivity and mRNA have recently been found outside the brain (Komatsu et al 1991, Stingo et al 1992, Suga et al 1992, Vollmar et al 1993. Several investigations have also demonstrated that CNP protein (Komatsu et al 1991, Ueda et al 1991, Suzuki et al 1993, Dean et al 1994, Mattingly et al 1994 and CNP mRNA (Suzuki et al 1993, Dean et al 1994, Terada et al 1994 are detectable in the kidney, suggesting that the kidney is a site for CNP production (Mattingly et al 1994).…”

Shear stress induces expression of CNP gene in human endothelial cells

“…In contrast to other natriuretic peptides; ANP and BNP, CNP has not been detected in the heart and blood, and was believed to be a neuropeptide [2]. Recently, CNP has been identified in endothelial cells and recognized to be a vascular local mediator [3,4]. Natriuretic peptide family has at least three receptors, namely ANP-A receptor, ANP-B receptor and clearance receptor.…”