Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide binds to the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor

Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) is a newly-described natriuretic peptide which lowers blood pressure via vasodilation. The natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (NPR-C) removes natriuretic peptides from the circulation, but whether DNP interacts with human NPR-C directly is unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that DNP binds to NPR-C. ANP, BNP, CNP, and the NPR-C ligands AP-811 and cANP(4-23) displaced [(125)I]-ANP from NPR-C with pM-to-nM K(i) values. DNP displaced [(125)I]-ANP from NPR-C with nM potency, which represents the first direct demonstration of binding of DNP to human NPR-C. DNP showed high pM affinity for the GC-A receptor and no affinity for GC-B (K(i)>1000 nM). DNP was nearly 10-fold more potent than ANP at stimulating cGMP production in GC-A expressing cells. Blockade of NPR-C might represent a novel therapeutic approach in augmenting the known beneficial actions of DNP in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart failure.     

Receptor-specific ligands distinguish natriuretic peptide receptors-A and -C in primate tissues

Systemic clearance of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is in part due to neutral endopeptidase (NEP) proteolysis and natriuretic peptide receptor-C (NPR-C) mediated endocytosis. Biological responses to ANP are primarily mediated by the membrane guanylyl cyclase-A/natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A). Analogs of ANP selective for NPR-A and/or resistant to NEP may have increased activity in those tissues where NPR-C and NEP are coexpressed with NPR-A. The analog of ANP termed vANP; [(R3D, G9T, R11S, M12L, G16R)ANP] is selective for human NPR-A with at least 10,000 fold reduction in affinity for human NPR-C. We report that rat NPR-A is insensitive to 10 nM vANP, demonstrating the limitations of this species in evaluating human therapeutic candidates. As an alternative approach we tested the binding and potency of receptor-selective and NEP-resistant ANP analogs in rhesus monkey tissues. Competition binding studies with a simplified version of vANP, sANP [(G9T, R11S, G16R)rANP], in rhesus monkey kidney and lung membrane preparations shows displacement of ¹²⁵I-ANP from only a fraction of the total ANP receptor population, 30 and 85%, respectively. The remaining ANP binding sites can be occupied with the NPR-C selective ligand cANP(4-23). These data strongly suggest that only two classes of ANP receptor are present in these membrane preparations, NPR-A and NPR-C. The NEP resistant sANP derivative called sANP(TAPR) was 8 fold more potent (ED₅₀ = 0.6 nM) than rANP (ED₅₀ = SnM) in stimulating cGMP production in the lung membrane preparation. Our results demonstrate that the rhesus monkey natriuretic peptide receptors reflect the pharmacology of the human receptors, and that this species may be suitable to determine the role of NPR-C and NEP in peptide clearance and attenuating functional responses.     

Potent antiobesity effect of a short-length peptide YY-analogue continuously administered in mice

The gastrointestinal peptide, peptide YY_3–36 (PYY_3–36) and its shorter peptide analogues have been reported to reduce appetite by activating the neuropeptide Y2 receptor (Y2R), which is associated with obesity and other metabolic diseases. A 14-amino acid PYY analogue, Ac-[d-Pro²⁴,Cha^27,28,36,Aib³¹]PYY(23–36) (3), showed high binding affinity and agonist activity for the Y2R, similar to that of PYY_3–36, but had weak anorectic activity upon continuous administration in lean mice. Three amino acid substitutions [Pya(4)²⁶, Aib²⁸, Lys³⁰], which contributed to the decreased hydrophobicity of 3, efficiently increased its anorectic activity. The compound containing these three amino acids, Ac-[d-Pro²⁴,Pya(4)²⁶,Cha^27,36,Aib^28,31,Lys³⁰]PYY(23–36) (22), exerted more potent and durable food intake suppression than that by PYY_3–36 in lean mice, as well as excellent Y2R agonist activity (EC₅₀: 0.20 nM) and good subcutaneous bioavailability (66.6%). The 11-day continuous administration of 22 at 1 mg/kg/day successfully produced antiobese and antidiabetic effects, with more than 20% body weight loss in obese and Type 2 diabetes ob/ob model mice.     

Glycosylation is critical for natriuretic peptide receptor-B function

Co-transfection of a truncated natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B) with the full length receptor results in a decrease of 60–80% in wild-type receptor activity. This reduction correlates with a loss of glycosylation of the full length NPR-B. This effect is dose-dependent, and occurs with no change in the glycosylation of the truncated receptor. Co-transfection of the full length NPR-B with other receptors yields similar results. These data suggest that glycosylation may be crucial for NPR-B function. Cross-linking studies further demonstrate that only fully glycosylated NPR-B receptors are able to bind ligand. Our data therefore argue that carbohydrate modification may be critical for NPR-B receptor ligand binding.Abbreviations as amino acids - ANF atrial natriuretic factor - ANOVA analysis of variance - BS³ bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate - BSA bovine serum albumin - CNP C-type natriuretic peptide - DEAE dextran-diethylaminoethyl-dextran - DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - dNTP deoxynucleotide triphosphate - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - IBMX 3-isobutyl-l-methyl-=xanthine - min minutes - N-linked asparagine-linked - NPR natriuretic peptide receptor - nt nucleotide - PCR polymerase chain reaction - RIA radioimmunoassay - RP-HPLC reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography - RP-HPLC reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - UV ultraviolet Address for offprints:Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit, Montreal, Quebec, H3C3J7, Canada     

Cloning and functional expression of the bovine natriuretic peptide receptor-B (natriuretic factor R1c subtype)

We describe the isolation of a 3,276 base pair cDNA for the bovine natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B). Expression of this clone in Cos-P cells demonstrates that it encodes an agonist-dependent guanylyl cyclase. Porcine CNP stimulates the activity of this receptor up to 200-fold with an ED₅₀ of 12±2 nM, whereas brain natriuretic peptide C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) are less efficacious. In addition, ligand binding studies indicate that this receptor exhibits the pharmacology appropriate for the bovine NPR-B. CNP binds to Cos-P cell membranes expressing this clone with a K_d of 13±1 pM, and natriuretic peptides compete for [¹²⁵I]-CNP binding with a rank order of pCNP>pBNP>rANF. Thus, the expressed receptor-guanylyl cyclase exhibits the expected pharmacological profile for ligand binding and cyclase activation of the bovine NPR-B receptor.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - dNTP deoxynucleotide triphosphate - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - DEAE-dextran diethylaminoethyl-dextran - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - RP-HPLC reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography - AMV avian myeloblastosis virus - Arg arginine - Lys lysine     

Antiobesity and emetic effects of a short-length peptide YY analog and its PEGylated and alkylated derivatives

Neuropeptide Y2 receptor (Y2R) agonism is an important anorectic signal and a target of antiobesity drug discovery. Recently, we synthesized a short-length Y2R agonist, PYY-1119 (4-imidazolecarbonyl-[d-Hyp²⁴,Iva²⁵,Pya(4)²⁶,Cha^27,36,γMeLeu²⁸,Lys³⁰,Aib³¹]PYY(23–36), 1) as an antiobesity drug candidate. Compound 1 induced marked body weight loss in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice; however, 1 also induced severe vomiting in dogs at a lower dose than the minimum effective dose administered to DIO mice. The rapid absorption of 1 after subcutaneous administration caused the severe vomiting. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)- and alkyl-modified derivatives of 1 were synthesized to develop Y2R agonists with improved pharmacokinetic profiles, i.e., lower maximum plasma concentration (C_max) and longer time at maximum concentration (T_max). Compounds 5 and 10, modified with 20?kDa PEG at the N-terminus and eicosanedioic acid at the Lys³⁰ side chain of 1, respectively, showed high Y2R binding affinity and induced significant body weight reduction upon once-daily administration to DIO mice. Compounds 5 and 10, with their relatively low C_max and long T_max, partially attenuated emesis in dogs compared with 1. These results indicate that optimization of pharmacokinetic properties of Y2R agonists is an effective strategy to alleviate emesis induced by Y2R agonism.     

Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides share binding sites on cultured cells from the rat trachea

Summary We examined the distribution of binding sites for alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide (¹²⁵I-ANP_1–28) and the recently discovered porcine brain natriuretic peptide (¹²⁵I-pBNP) on immunocytochemically identified cells in dissociated culture preparations of the rat trachea. Specific binding sites for both ¹²⁵I-ANP_1–28 and ¹²⁵I-pBNP were evenly distributed over distinet subpopulations of smooth muscle myosin-like immunoreactive muscle cells, fibronectin-like immunoreactive fibroblasts and S-100-like immunoreactive glial cells. Neither keratin-like immunoreactive epithelial cells nor protein gene product 9.5-like immunoreactive paratracheal neurones expressed natriuretic peptide binding sites, although autoradiographically labelled glial cells were seen in close association with both neuronal cell bodies and neurites. The binding of each radiolabelled peptide was abolished by the inclusion of either excess (1 M) unlabelled rat ANP or excess unlabelled porcine BNP, suggesting that ANP and BNP share binding sites in the trachea. Furthermore, the ring-deleted analogue, Des-[Gln¹⁸, Ser¹⁹, Gly²⁰, Leu²¹, Gly²²]-ANF_4–23-NH₂, strongly competed for specific ¹²⁵I-ANP_1–28 and ¹²⁵I-pBNP binding sites in the tracheal cultures; this suggests that virtually all binding sites were of the clearance (ANP-C or ANF-R₂) receptor subtype.     

Distribution and regulation of natriuretic factor-R1C receptor subtypes in mammalian cell lines

The differential distribution of natriuretic peptide receptor subtypes and their distinct properties were assessed in mammalian cellular models which were screened for their ability to produce cGMP upon stimulation by different natriuretic peptides. The ANF-R_1A receptor subtype was distinguished by its selective activation by atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) while the ANF-R_1C was characterized by preferential stimulation by C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). AT-t20 pituitary cells, bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, and NIH-3T3 fibroblasts mainly express the ANF-R_1C receptor subtype. Other cell lines such as PC12, RASM and GH3 express significant but varying amounts of both ANF-R_1A and ANF-R_1C subtypes. A10 and NIH cells which express high density of ANF-R₂ receptor subtype, also demonstrate a higher sensitivity to CNP over ANF suggesting that they express significant amounts of ANF-R_1C. Studies of the regulation by ATP of guanylyl cyclase activity indicate that both ANF-R_1A and ANF-R_1C subtypes are modulated in the same manner. In the presence of Mn²⁺, ATP inhibits the CNP-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activity while in the presence of Mg²⁺ adenine nucleotides potentiate the stimulation by CNP. In addition, we show that like the ANF-R_1A, the ANF-R_1C guanylyl cyclase activity can be regulated by phosphorylation since preincubation with TPA or FKL attenuates the subsequent stimulation by CNP in cultured cells. The results presented demonstrate that specific cell types express distinct natriuretic peptide receptor subtypes and also that the newly characterized ANF-R_1C subtype is regulated by ATP and serine/threonine kinases in the same way as the ANF-R_1A subtype.Abbreviation ANF atrial natriuretic factor - BNP brain natriuretic peptide - CNP C-type natriuretic peptide - ATP adenosine-5-triphosphate - IBMX 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine - TPA 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate - FKL forskolin - PKC calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase - PKA cAMP-dependent protein kinase - PKG cGMP-dependent protein kinase - C-ANF [Cys¹¹⁶]-ANF-(102-116)-NH₂ - CC chromaffin cells     

Immunolocalization of atrial natriuretic peptide in mast cells of human and rat pericardium

It is known that various heart disorders are accompanied by an elevated level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis, in the pericardial fluid. Which cells produce ANP in the pericardial cavity is unclear. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we examined ANP localization in human and rat pericardium. ANP-immunobinding material was found in granules of mast cells (MC) localized in pericardial connective tissue. In rat pericardium, the average MC size is 6.5 × 12.5 μm and the MC density is about 50 cells per 1 mm² section area. For the human pericardium, these parameters are 9.1 × 13.6 μm and 10 cells per 1 mm², respectively. The results show that MCs are probably implicated in the pericardial endocrine function and in controlling the ANP level in the pericardial cavity.     

Vasonatrin peptide stimulates both of the natriuretic peptide receptors,NPRA and NPRB

Vasonatrin peptide (VNP) is an active cardiovascular factor and a novel synthetic natriuretic peptide with unknown natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR) binding properties. We set out to design binding models of NPRA/VNP and NPRB/VNP, and then assessed their recognition and binding affinities using molecular dynamics. Molecular dynamics analysis indicated decreases in the values of Van der Waals, electrostatic energy and potential energy of NPRB/VNP compared to NPRA/VNP. There was a 25% increase in H-bond formation between VNP and NPRB. The cGMP stimulated by VNP in NPRB-transfected HEK-293 cells was 11-fold higher than that of NPRA. We therefore demonstrated that VNP binds with both NPRA and NPRB, but with a preference for NPRB.     

Structural determinants of natriuretic peptide receptor specificity and degeneracy

Cardiovascular homeostasis and blood pressure regulation are reliant, in part, on interactions between natriuretic peptide (NP) hormones and natriuretic peptide receptors (NPR). The C-type NPR (NPR-C) is responsible for clearance of NP hormones from the circulation, and displays a cross-reactivity for all NP hormones (ANP, BNP, and CNP), in contrast to other NPRs, which are more restricted in their specificity. In order to elucidate the structural determinants for the binding specificity and cross-reactivity of NPR-C with NP hormones, we have determined the crystal structures of the complexes of NPR-C with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). A structural comparison of these complexes, with the previous structure of the NPR-C/CNP complex, reveals that NPR-C uses a conformationally inflexible surface to bind three different, highly flexible, NP ligands. The complex structures support a mechanism of rigid promiscuity rather than conformational plasticity by the receptor. While ANP and BNP appear to adopt similar receptor-bound conformations, the CNP structure diverges, yet shares sets of common receptor contacts with the other ligands. The degenerate versus selective hormone recognition properties of different NPRs appears to derive largely from two cavities on the receptor surfaces, pocket I and pocket II, that serve as anchoring sites for hormone side-chains and modulate receptor selectivity.     

Isatin causes a rapid accumulation of ATP in synaptosomes: Implication for stress and regulation of natriuretic peptide receptors

Isatin is an endogenous indole, which is increased in mammalian brain and peripheral tissues under conditions of stress. Physiological concentrations of isatin inhibit natriuretic peptide (NPR) receptor binding and NPR-dependent signalling. The inhibition of NPR signalling by isatin is attenuated by a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue. In this study we have demonstrated that short term incubation of rat brain synaptosomes with a physiological concentration of isatin caused a rapid 3-fold accumulation of ATP. The additional increase of ATP in the presence of tyrphostin, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, which uses ATP for phosphorylation of some proteins, suggests the dependence of this phenomenon on the activity of ATP-consuming systems. ATP inhibited binding of [³H]isatin to both particulate and soluble fractions of the rat brain. These results suggest that isatin induces accumulation of ATP, which in turn may displace isatin from both membrane-bound and soluble binding sites. Since natriuretic peptides are known to decrease stress hormone release this regulatory loop may be involved in the maintenance of natriuretic peptide signalling under conditions of stress and thus contribute to the control of stress responses.     

Deletion mutants of the B type natriuretic peptide receptor: cDNA expression and protein purification and characterization

The C type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a peptide hormone stimulating vasorelaxation and inhibiting cell proliferation. CNP activates the type B natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-B), known as the guanylate cyclase B membrane enzyme, which results in the cGMP release. To study functional properties of NPR-B, its gene fragments were expressed in methylotrophic yeastsPichia pastoris. Conditions were found providing for secretion of functionally active recombinant proteins NPR-Bs and NPR-Bl into the cultural medium in a yield of 25 mg/l culture. Their specific activity was 0.97 and 0.93 μmol cGMP min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein, respectively. It was shown that NPR-B belongs to the family of Ser/Thr protein kinases and can be autophosphorylated at the serine residues.     

Effects of eel atrial natriuretic peptide on NaCl and water transport across the intestine of the seawater eel

Summary Eel atrial natriuretic peptide inhibited the serosa-negative transepithelial potential difference and short-circuit current, accompanied by a decrease in NaCl and water absorption across the seawater eel intestine. Similar effects were obtained after treatment with N-terminally truncated eel atrial natriuretic peptide (5–27), indicating that N-terminal amino acids are not essential for the action of eel atrial natriuretic peptide. Although mammalian atrial natriuretic peptides also inhibited the short-circuit current, a 100-fold higher concentration was reuired to obtain the same effect as with eel atrial natriuretic peptide, indicating that eel atrial natriuretic peptide is 100 times as potent in eel intestine as the mammalian atrial natriuretic peptides. Similarly, in mammalian atrial natriuretic peptide, the four N-terminal amino acids had no significant effects. However, when the C-terminal tyrosine was removed, the potency of rat atrial natriuretic peptide was lowered. Compared with the effects of acetylcholine, serotonin and histamine, eel atrial natriuretic peptide was the most potent inhibitor, with 100% inhibition at 10^-7 M; 50% inhibition was obtained at 10^-2 M in acetylcholine, and 30% inhibition in serotonin (10^-5 M) and histamine (10^-3 M). These inhibitory effects of eel atrial natriuretic peptide were not diminished even in the presence of tetradoxin, and were mimicked by 8-bromoguanosine 3,5-cyclic monophosphate. Based on these results, structure-activity relationships of eel atrial natriuretic peptide and a possible mechanism of action of eel atrial natriuretic peptide are discussed.Abbreviations 8BrcGMP 8-bromoguanosine 3,5-cyclic monophosphate - eANP eel atrial natriuretic peptide - hANP human atrial natriuretic peptide - 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine creatine sulphate - I _sc short-circuit current - PD transepithelial potential difference - rANP rat atrial natriuretic peptide - R _t tissue resistance - TTX tetrodotoxin     

A Comparison of the Lipolytic Activity of Different Natriuretic Peptides on Human Adipocytes

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was recently shown to promote triacylglycerol hydrolysis in human white adipocytes both in vitro and in vivo through a cGMP-dependent pathway. The ANP-stimulated lipolytic effect is known to be specific to primates. In this study, we compared the lipolytic effect of different natriuretic peptides obtained from several species, including ANP from human, rat, chicken, frog, and eel, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) from porcine and rat, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) from human, chicken, and frog, Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), urodilatin, and des-[Gln¹⁸, Ser¹⁹, Gly²⁰, Leu²¹, Gly²²]-ANP (C-ANP), on human and rat adipocytes. We also compared the amount of intracellular cGMP produced in both human and rat adipocytes that were treated with natriuretic peptides. Among these NPs, rat ANP, as well as porcine and rat BNP, DNP and urodilatin showed the ability to elevate intracellular cGMP and to stimulate lipolysis as human ANP. No natriuretic peptide showed the ability to stimulate lipolysis in rat adipocytes, though some of them induced significant elevation of intracelluar cGMP concentrations. These results suggest that ANP and BNP from species close to human have the ability to induce lipolysis in human adipocytes. Jiahua Yu and Yeon Jun Jeong contributed equally.     

Syntheses and biological activities of atrial natriuretic polypeptide analogs

Recently several peptides with natriuretic and diuretic potencies were isolated from human and rat atrial extract, and the precursors of the peptides were sequenced. Of the peptides, -human and rat atrial natriuretic polypeptides (-hANP, -rANP), consisting of 28 amino acids, are thought to be essential to the potency and to play an important role in the blood pressure regulation system. The amino acid sequence of -hANP is different from that of -rANP only at the position 12 (isoleucine in -rANP). In the present study, we synthesized ANPs and their analogs using a new deprotection procedure based on the concept of push-pull mechanism. Using the synthetic ANP analog, we also developed a radioimmunoassay for -ANP and examined the structure-activity relationship. Synthetic -hANP caused potent, rapid, and short-acting increases in Na⁺ and Cl^– excretion, and also an increase in urine flow and K⁺ excretion of lesser magnitude, when injected into rat. Also, we synthesized a cyclic part of -hANP, -ANP(7–23)-NH₂. Since this peptide had a little diuretic and natriuretic potency, we attempted to synthesize a chemically stable -hANP analog. We considered that the disulfide bond would be equivalent to propylene with regard to interatomic distance and employed 8-aminocaprylic acid instead of cystine. This cyclic peptide, named cyclonatrin-54, had a somewhat higher potency than -hANP(7–23)-NH₂ for diuresis and natriuresis, as expected. Furthermore, using a synthetic intermediate of cyclonatrin-54, we prepared a linear ANP analog, -hANP(8–22), Phe-Gly-Gly-Arg-Met-Asp-Arg-Ile-Gly-Ala-Gln-Ser-Gly-Leu-Gly. This linear 15-amino acid peptide had a dose-dependent natriuretic and diuretic activity, but no hypotensive effect. It was surprising that a linear peptide exhibited a potent natriuretic activity. For the first time, a linear peptide has been prepared that has substantial natriuretic and diuretic potency. We synthesized some analogs of this 15-amino acid peptide and investigated the structure-activity relationship.This article was presented during the proceedings of the International Conference on Macromolecular Structure and Function, held at the National Defence Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan, December 1985.     

Visualisation of specific binding sites for atrial natriuretic peptide on non-neuronal cells of cultured rat sympathetic ganglia

Summary The distribution of atrial natriuretic peptide binding sites on cells in dissociated culture preparations of neonatal rat superior cervical ganglia and in explant cultures of rat thoracic sympathetic chain ganglia has been studied. The autoradiographic visualisation of atrial natriuretic peptide binding sites has been combined with the use of specific immunocytochemical markers for glial cells (antiserum to S-100 protein), fibroblasts (antiserum to fibronectin) and neurones (antiserum to protein gene product 9.5) in order to achieve unambiguous identification of the cell types in culture. Specific binding sites for rat¹²⁵I-atrial natriuretic peptide_(1–28) were observed over subpopulations of fibronectin-like-immunoreactive fibroblasts and S-100-like-immunoreactive glia in the dissociated superior cervical ganglion cultures. However, only a subpopulation of fibronectin-like-immunoreactive fibroblasts possessed atrial natriuretic peptide binding sites in the explant culture preparations. No atrial natriuretic peptide-like-immunoreactive cells were present in either culture. The distribution of autoradiographic grains over individual cell surfaces in culture was uniform, but there were distinct differences in the density of labelling of single cells of the same type. This apparent variation in the number of binding sites on glial cells and fibroblasts in culture did not seem to be related to the morphology of the cells or the surrounding cell types. No sympathetic neurones were labelled with autoradiographic grains in either the dissociated or explant culture preparations. However, the presence of atrial natriuretic peptide binding sites on non-neuronal cells of sympathetic ganglia in culture may be linked to the relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide and the sympathetic nervous system.     

Intracellular trafficking and metabolic turnover ofligand-bound guanylyl cyclase/atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A into subcellular compartments

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is the first described member of the natriuretic peptide hormone family. ANP elicits natriuretic, diuretic, vasorelaxant and antiproliferative effects, important factors in the control of blood pressure homeostasis. One of the principal loci involved in the regulatory action of ANP is the guanylyl cyclase-linked ANP-receptor which has been designated as NPRA, also referred to as GC-A, whose ANP-binding efficiency and guanylyl cyclase activity vary remarkably in different target tissues. However, the cellular and molecular basis of these activities and the functional expression and regulation of NPRA are not well understood. The mature form of receptor resides in the plasma membrane and consists of an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a single transmembrane-spanning region, and intracellular protein kinase-like homology and guanylyl cyclase catalytic domains. In this review, emphasis has been placed on the interaction of ANP with NPRA, the ligand-mediated endocytosis, trafficking, and subcellular distribution of ligand-receptor complexes from cell surface to the intracellular compartments. Furthermore, it is implicated that after internalization, the ANP/NPRA complexes dissociate into the subcellular compartments and a population of receptor recycles back to the plasma membrane. This is an interesting area of research in the natriuretic peptide receptor field because there is currently debate over whether ANP/NPRA complexes internalize at all or whether cell utilizes some other mechanisms to release ANP from the bound receptor molecules. Indeed, controversy exist since it has been previously reported by default that among the three natriuretic peptide receptors only NPRC internalizes with bound ligand. Hence, from a thematic standpoint it is clearly evident that there is a current need to review this subject and provide a consensus forum that establishes the cellular trafficking, sequestration and processing of ANP/NPRA complexes in intact cells. Towards this aim the cellular life-cycle of NPRA will be described in the context of ANP-binding, internalization, metabolic processing, and/or inactivation, down-regulation, and degradation of ligand-receptor complexes in model cell systems.     

NPR3 protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis through inhibition of cytosolic BRCA1 and TNF-α

Natriuretic peptide receptor 3 (NPR3) is a clearance receptor by binding and internalizing natriuretic peptides (NPs) for ultimate degradation. Patients with cardiac failure show elevated NPs. NPs are linked to poor long-term survival because of their apoptotic effects. However, the underling mechanisms have not been identified yet. Here we report the role of NPR3 in anti-apoptosis via the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α ). To demonstrate a role for NPR3 in apoptosis, stable H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell lines using shRNA to knockdown NPR3 were generated. The activities of caspase-3, 8, and 9 were significantly increased in NPR3 knockdown H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of NPR3 increased the expression of BRCA1. Also NPR3 knockdown remarkably increased the activity of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), a positive regulatory element for BRCA1 expression. BRCA1 showed dispersed nuclear localization in non-cardiomyocytes while predominantly cytoplasmic localization in H9C2 cells. Meanwhile, NPR3 knockdown significantly increased TNF-α gene expression. These data show that NPR3 knockdown in H9C2 cells triggered both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. NPR3 protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis through inhibition of cytosolic BRCA1 and TNF-α, which are regulators of apoptosis. Our studies demonstrate anti-apoptosis role of NPR3 in protecting cardiomyocytes and establish the first molecular link between NP system and programmed cell death.