Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Sep;4(3):R25-36.
doi: 10.1530/EC-15-0018.

INTERACTING DISCIPLINES: Cardiac natriuretic peptides and obesity: perspectives from an endocrinologist and a cardiologist

Hugo R Ramos  1 , Andreas L Birkenfeld  2   3 , Adolfo J de Bold  4
Affiliations
Review

INTERACTING DISCIPLINES: Cardiac natriuretic peptides and obesity: perspectives from an endocrinologist and a cardiologist

Hugo R Ramos et al. Endocr Connect. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Since their discovery in 1981, the cardiac natriuretic peptides (cNP) atrial natriuretic peptide (also referred to as atrial natriuretic factor) and brain natriuretic peptide have been well characterised in terms of their renal and cardiovascular actions. In addition, it has been shown that cNP plasma levels are strong predictors of cardiovascular events and mortality in populations with no apparent heart disease as well as in patients with established cardiac pathology. cNP secretion from the heart is increased by humoral and mechanical stimuli. The clinical significance of cNP plasma levels has been shown to differ in obese and non-obese subjects. Recent lines of evidence suggest important metabolic effects of the cNP system, which has been shown to activate lipolysis, enhance lipid oxidation and mitochondrial respiration. Clinically, these properties lead to browning of white adipose tissue and to increased muscular oxidative capacity. In human association studies in patients without heart disease higher cNP concentrations were observed in lean, insulin-sensitive subjects. Highly elevated cNP levels are generally observed in patients with systolic heart failure or high blood pressure, while obese and type-2 diabetics display reduced cNP levels. Together, these observations suggest that the cNP system plays a role in the pathophysiology of metabolic vascular disease. Understanding this role should help define novel principles in the treatment of cardiometabolic disease.

Keywords: ANF; ANP; BNP; NT-proBNP; heart disease; natriuretic peptides; obesity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Main biological targets and effects of the cardiac natriuretic peptides ANP and BNP.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ogawa T, de Bold AJ. The heart as an endocrine organ. Endocrine Connections. 2014;3:R31–R44. doi: 10.1530/EC-14-0012. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ramos H, de Bold AJ. Gene expression, processing and secretion of natriuretic peptides: physiologic and diagnostic implications. Heart Failure Clinics. 2006;2:255–268. doi: 10.1016/j.hfc.2006.08.005. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kuroski de Bold ML, de Bold AJ. Stretch-secretion coupling in atrial cardiocytes. Dissociation between atrial natriuretic factor release and mechanical activity. Hypertension. 1991;18:III-169–III-178. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.18.5_Suppl.III169. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Meirovich YF, Veinot JP, de Bold ML, Haddad H, Davies RA, Masters RG, Hendry PJ, de Bold AJ. Relationship between natriuretic peptides and inflammation: proteomic evidence obtained during acute cellular cardiac allograft rejection in humans. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2008;27:31–37. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2007.09.025. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Iwanaga Y, Nishi I, Furuichi S, Noguchi T, Sase K, Kihara Y, Goto Y, Nonogi H. B-type natriuretic peptide strongly reflects diastolic wall stress in patients with chronic heart failure: comparison between systolic and diastolic heart failure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2006;47:742–748. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.11.030. - DOI - PubMed