Pleiotropic effects of natriuretic peptides

Pleiotropic effects of natriuretic peptides

The two important natriuretic peptides from the cardiovascular point of view are atrial natriuretic peptide which is a twenty eight amino acid polypeptide and B-type natriuretic peptide which, is a thirty two amino acid polypeptide. Both are released from the cardiac tissue in response to stress and stretch. They activate guanylyl cyclase A  and produce their pleiotropic effects. The pleiotropic actions are natriuresis after which they are named, renin suppression, which in turn suppresses angiotensin II and aldosterone formation, cytoprotective property, antihypertrophic action, anti fibrotic and vascular regenerative actions.

Exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide is known as carperitide and exogenous B-type natriuretic peptide is known as nesiritide.