Identification of renal natriuretic peptide receptor subpopulations by use of the non-peptide antagonist, HS-142-1

Deletion of the Npr3 gene increases severity of acute lung injury in obese mice

Previous studies have shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) attenuates agonist-induced pulmonary edema and that this effect may be mediated in part by the ANP clearance receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor-C (NPR-C). Obesity has been associated with lower plasma ANP levels due to increased expression of NPR-C, and with decreased severity of acute lung injury (ALI). Therefore, we hypothesized that increased expression of NPR-C may attenuate ALI severity in obese populations. To test this, we examined ALI in Npr3 wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice fed normal chow (NC) or high-fat diets (HFD). After 12 weeks, ALI was induced with intra-tracheal administration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 103 (PA103) or saline. ALI severity was determined by lung wet-to-dry ratio (W/D) along with measurement of cell count, protein levels from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on whole lung to measure cytokine/chemokine and Npr3 mRNA expression. ANP levels were measured from plasma. PA103 caused ALI as determined by significant increases in W/D, BALF protein concentration, and whole lung cytokine/chemokine expression. PA103 increased Npr3 expression in the lungs of wild-type (WT) mice regardless of diet. There was a nonsignificant trend toward increased Npr3 expression in the lungs of WT mice fed HFD versus NC. No differences in ALI were seen between Npr3 knockout (KO) mice and WT-fed NC, but Npr3 KO mice fed HFD had a significantly greater W/D and BALF protein concentration than WT mice fed HFD. These findings support the hypothesis that Npr3 may help protect against ALI in obesity.

An analogue of atrial natriuretic peptide (C-ANP4-23) modulates glucose metabolism in human differentiated adipocytes

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of C-atrial natriuretic peptide (C-ANP4-23) in human adipose-derived stem cells differentiated into adipocytes over 10 days (1 μM for 4 h). The intracellular cAMP, cGMP and protein kinase A levels were determined by ELISA and gene and protein expression were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively, in the presence or absence of C-ANP4-23. The levels of lipolysis and glucose uptake were also determined. C-ANP4-23 treatment significantly increased the intracellular cAMP levels and the gene expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) and protein kinase, AMP-activated, alpha 1 catalytic subunit (AMPK). Western blot showed a significant increase in GLUT4 and phosphor-AMPKα levels. Importantly, the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 abolished these effects. Additionally, C-ANP4-23 increased glucose uptake by 2-fold. Our results show that C-ANP4-23 enhances glucose metabolism and might contribute to the development of new peptide-based therapies for metabolic diseases.

Biodesign of a renal-protective peptide based on alternative splicing of B-type natriuretic peptide

Alternative RNA splicing may provide unique opportunities to identify drug targets and therapeutics. We identified an alternative spliced transcript for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) resulting from intronic retention. This transcript is present in failing human hearts and is reduced following mechanical unloading. The intron-retained transcript would generate a unique 34 amino acid (aa) carboxyl terminus while maintaining the remaining structure of native BNP. We generated antisera to this carboxyl terminus and identified immunoreactivity in failing human heart tissue. The alternatively spliced peptide (ASBNP) was synthesized and unlike BNP, failed to stimulate cGMP in vascular cells or vasorelax preconstricted arterial rings. This suggests that ASBNP may lack the dose-limiting effects of recombinant BNP. Given structural considerations, a carboxyl-terminal truncated form of ASBNP was generated (ASBNP.1) and was determined to retain the ability of BNP to stimulate cGMP in canine glomerular isolates and cultured human mesangial cells but lacked similar effects in vascular cells. In a canine-pacing model of heart failure, systemic infusion of ASBNP.1 did not alter mean arterial pressure but increased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), suppressed plasma renin and angiotensin, while inducing natriuresis and diuresis. Consistent with its distinct in vivo effects, the activity of ASBNP.1 may not be explained through binding and activation of NPR-A or NPR-B. Thus, the biodesigner peptide ASBNP.1 enhances GFR associated with heart failure while lacking the vasoactive properties of BNP. These findings demonstrate that peptides with unique properties may be designed based on products of alternatively splicing.

Quantification of low abundance natriuretic peptide receptor mRNA in rat tissues

Natriuretic peptides are important regulators of vascular resistance and volume and electrolyte homeostasis. The quantification of natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR) mRNA is important for the understanding of the regulation of this humoral system, but is difficult due to low expression of the NPR mRNA. We report here on the evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-aided transcript titration assay for quantification of all three NPR subtypes (NPR-A, NPR-B, and NPR-C) mRNA. A multispecific internal standard RNA with parts of NPR-A, NPR-B, NPR-C and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) nucleotide sequences was constructed and reverse transcription of standard and sample RNA (400 ng) was performed in parallel for all three NPRs and GAPDH. The specific PCR yielded differently sized products, which were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The determination of specific mRNA concentrations was not influenced by cDNA input and did not depend on the PCR cycle number. Linearity between sample RNA input and mRNA concentration was demonstrated. Application of the evaluated method showed that the NPR-A mRNA expression was the most abundant of the three natriuretic peptide receptor mRNAs in rat lungs, glomeruli and left ventricles, followed by the NPR-C mRNA and the NPR-B mRNA expression. Thus, the described method allows the reliable quantification of the specific mRNA expression of all three NPRs with small amounts of RNA. The presented method might foster future research on the regulation of this humoral system in cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

Efficacy of isatin analogues as antagonists of rat brain and heart atrial natriuretic peptide receptors coupled to particulate guanylyl cyclase

Isatin is an endogenous indole and an inhibitor of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptors coupled with particulate guanylyl cyclase (GC). In this study, several isatin analogues were tested as inhibitors of ANP-stimulated GC in rat brain and heart membranes. None of these analogues affected activity in the absence of ANP, or stimulated ANP-induced activity. In both tissues, some 5-substituted isatins (5-hydroxyisatin, 5-methylisatin, and 5-aminoisatin) exhibited more effective inhibitory activity than isatin itself, with IC50 values in the range 1.3-20 microM. The efficacy of other analogues varied and was not consistent between the two tissues, raising the possibility of receptor heterogeneity and relative selectivity of inhibition. Some substituted isatins may have a role as pharmacological tools for investigating the physiological roles of natriuretic peptides and their receptors.

Effect of atrial natriuretic peptide and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibition on collagen synthesis by adult cardiac fibroblasts

1. Cardiac fibroblasts play an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodelling induced by hypertension and myocardial infarction by undergoing proliferation and depositing extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen. We have examined the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on proliferation and collagen synthesis by adult rat and human cardiac fibroblasts in culture. 2. In cells from both species radioligand studies using 125I-ANP suggested that the majority of binding sites (> 85%) were non-guanylyl cyclase-linked (NPR-C subtype). Nonetheless ANP (10(-9) to 10(-6) M), in the presence of zaprinast, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), increased fibroblast cyclic GMP levels 3-5 fold in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). 3. ANP (10(-11) to 10(-6) M), a NPR-C ligand, C-ANF4-23 (10(-11) to 10(-6) M) and zaprinast alone had no significant effect on either basal or serum-stimulated DNA synthesis or fibroblast number. In combination with zaprinast (10(-5) M), however, ANP (10(-9) to 10(-6) M) but not C-ANF4-23 (10(-7) M) inhibited markedly both basal and stimulated fibroblast mitogenesis, an effect reproduced by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (10(-5) to 10(-3) M). 4. Collagen synthesis, determined by measuring hydroxyproline levels, was stimulated with transforming growth factor-beta1 (40 pM), angiotensin II (10(-7) M) or 2% foetal bovine serum. The increase in collagen production, normalised by cell number, was reduced dramatically (to at or near basal production) by ANP (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) but not C-ANF4-23 (10(-7) M) in the presence of zaprinast. Again 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (10(-5) to 10(-3) M) reproduced the effect. 5. ANP is capable of inhibiting collagen synthesis in adult rat and human cardiac fibroblasts via cyclic GMP, a property unmasked and enhanced by inhibition of PDE5.

Role of guanylyl cyclase receptors for CNP in salt secretion by shark rectal gland

The role of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its guanylyl cyclase-linked receptors in mediating salt secretion by the rectal gland of the spiny dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias) was investigated using HS-142-1, a competitive inhibitor of the binding of natriuretic peptides to their guanylyl cyclase receptors. CNP binds to receptors and activates guanylyl cyclase in rectal gland membranes in a way that is inhibited by HS-142-1. Guanylyl cyclase activation in rectal gland membranes is far more sensitive to CNP than to atrial natriuretic peptide, whereas the reverse is true for membranes derived from mammalian (rabbit) renal collecting duct cells. HS-142-1 inhibited the stimulatory effect of CNP on ouabain-inhibitable oxygen consumption by rectal gland tubules. In explanted rectal glands continuously perfused with blood from intact donor sharks, HS-142-1 inhibited the increase in salt secretion normally provoked by infusing isotonic saline solutions into the donor animal. These results strongly support the view that CNP released into the systemic circulation in response to volume expansion mediates the secretion of chloride by the rectal gland via receptors linked to guanylyl cyclase.

Isatin: a link between natriuretic peptides and monoamines?

Isatin is an endogenous indole with a distinctive distribution in brain and tissues. In the brain, the highest levels have been found in the hippocampus (0.1 microgram/g), and an immunocytochemical stain has shown specific localization within particular cells. In vitro, its most potent known actions are as an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (IC50 approximately 3 microM), and of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor binding and ANP-induced guanylate cyclase (both with an IC50 approximately 0.4 microM). In vivo, isatin administration (10-200 mg/kg) causes an increase of monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Isatin is anxiogenic in animal models at doses of 10-20 mg/kg and sedative at higher doses. Its anxiogenic effects are unlikely to be due to inhibition of monoamine oxidase, but may possibly stem from interaction with the ANP system. Isatin may mediate a link between monoamines and the natriuretic peptide system, and its analogues may provide new pharmacological tools.