New insights into the role of natriuretic peptides in the regulation of apoptosis in cardiovascular system

ABSTRACT

Natriuretic peptides NPs are a family of structurally similar but genetically distinct peptides with paracrine and autocrine functions of regulating blood volume, blood pressure, ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, fat metabolism, and long bone growth. There are 3 main natriuretic peptides atria natriuretic peptides ANP, brain natriuretic peptides BNP and C-type natriuretic peptides CNP. As investigations of the in vivo activities of natriuretic peptides were expanded, evidence suggested that natriuretic peptides might function as regulators of cell proliferation and/or death in a variety of tissues and cell types. Natriuretic peptides are much more frequently observed in cardiovascular system, the present discussion is focus on cell death in cardiovascular system, especially vascular endothelial cells ECs, vascular smooth muscle cells VSMCs, cardiac myocyte