Key result
Cultured human aortic endothelial cells secrete ANP, suggesting the vascular endothelium is a production site.
Why the study?
The presence and secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from vascular endothelial cells had not been investigated.
Endothelial ANP production in culture extends known sources beyond atrium; leaves open any role in human physiology or therapy.
The endothelium is the production site of several potent vasoactive substances that modulate vascular tone and growth. The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence and secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) immunoreactivity from vascular endothelial cells. ANP immunoreactivity was present in cultured human aortic endothelial cells by both immunohistochemical staining and radioimmunoassay. ANP immunoreactivity was also detectable in culture medium from human aortic endothelial cells in low picogram concentrations. These findings suggest that vascular endothelium is a site of ANP production and secretion of ANP. There was a differential distribution of ANP and endothelin-1 (ET-1), with a higher ANP concentration in cell extracts and a higher ET-1 concentration in cell culture media. Although ANP has been conceived as a circulating endocrine hormone, these findings are consistent with ANP functioning also as an autocrine and paracrine modulator in the regulation of vascular tone and growth.
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Brandt et al. (1995) studied this question. Cultured human aortic endothelial cells was evaluated on Presence and secretion of ANP immunoreactivity. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) immunoreactivity was detected in cultured human aortic endothelial cells and their culture medium, suggesting the vascular endothelium is a site of ANP production.
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