Presence of Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity in human plasma and its increase during human heart failure.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), a novel peptide isolated from the venom of the Dendroaspis angusticeps snake that contains a 17-amino acid disulfide ring structure similar to that in atrial, brain, and C-type natriuretic peptides, is present in normal human plasma and myocardium and whether, like the other natriuretic peptides, DNP-like immunoreactivity (DNP-LI) is activated in human congestive heart failure (CHF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Circulating DNP-LI was assessed in 19 normal human subjects and 19 patients with CHF (New York Heart Association class III or IV) with a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay for DNP with no cross-reactivity with the other natriuretic peptides. Immunohistochemical studies that used polyclonal rabbit anti-DNP antiserum were performed on human atrial myocardial tissue obtained from four patients with end-stage CHF who were undergoing cardiac transplantation and from three donor hearts at the time of transplantation.

RESULTS:

We report that DNP-LI circulates in normal human plasma and is present in the normal atrial myocardium. In addition, DNP-LI is increased in the plasma of patients with CHF.

CONCLUSION:

This study demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of a DNP-like peptide in normal human plasma and in the atrial myocardium. Additionally, these studies demonstrate increased plasma DNP-LI in human CHF. These results support the possible existence of an additional new natriuretic peptide in humans, which may have a role in the neurohumoral activation that characterizes human CHF.

• Authors: J A Schirger, D M Heublein, H H Chen, O Lisy, M Jougasaki, P W Wennberg, J C Burnett Jr
• Journal: Mayo Clinic proceedings (Mayo Clin Proc) Vol. 74 Issue 2 Pg. 126-30 (Feb 1999) ISSN: 0025-6196 [Print] England
• PMID: 10069348 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide
• Elapid Venoms
• Immune Sera
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Peptides

Topics

• Animals
• Case-Control Studies
• Elapid Venoms (analysis, blood, chemistry, immunology)
• Heart Atria (chemistry)
• Heart Failure (blood, immunology)
• Humans
• Immune Sera
• Immunohistochemistry
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Peptides (analysis, blood, chemistry, immunology)
• Rabbits
• Radioimmunoassay
• Severity of Illness Index