Cardiovascular Pleiotropic Effects of Natriuretic Peptides

Figures

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  Figure 1. Local action of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in cardiomyocytes. ANP is secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to cardiac stress. After secretion, ANP binds to the natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) and activates the cGMP/PKG pathway. Anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic effects of ANP occur through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. Arrow-headed lines indicate activation, whereas bar-headed lines indicate inhibition. Legend: c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP); extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK); mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1); natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR-A); nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT); p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs); protein kinases G (PKG). See text for further details. The figure was made using tools provided by Servier Medical Arts, amongst others.

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  Figure 2. Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the vascular system. The contribution of either endothelial and cardiac-derived ANP in response to stress prevents endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage. ANP increases vasodilatation and endothelial permeability, stimulates angiogenesis, proliferation, nitric oxide production, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Arrow-headed lines indicate activation whereas bar-headed lines indicate inhibition. Legend: cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP); ciclooxygenases-2 (Cox-2); intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1); natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR-A); nitric oxide (NO); nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFkB); protein kinases G (PKG); tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). See text for further details. The figure was made using tools provided by Servier Medical Arts, amongst others.