Background:
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), a 22-amino-acid peptide and a ligand of the natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B), exhibits venodilating, anti-fibrotic, and vascular-regenerating properties but limited renal actions. A Mayo-designed chimeric peptide, CD-NP, which consists of CNP and the C-terminus of
Dendroaspis
NP, was synthesized to test the hypothesis that CD-NP would possess CNP-like properties with an improved pharmacodynamic profile.
Methods:
Normal anesthetized dogs were given CD-NP 50 ng/kg/min (n = 10) or an equimolar dose of CNP 29.3 ng/kg/min (n = 9) i.v. for 75 min. Hemodynamic, renal, and hormonal data were obtained pre-infusion (pre-I), at 30 and 60 min I, and post-I, and were compared both within group
vs
pre-I (mean ± SE,
P<
0.05*, < 0.01
†
) and between groups (
P
< 0.05
‡
, < 0.01
§
, < 0.001
¶
). Plasma BNP was measured by radioimmunoassay.
Results:
CD-NP resulted in greater increases in plasma cGMP (7±.4 to 25±3
†¶
to 36±3
†¶
to 23±3
†¶
pmol/ml), urinary cGMP excretion (978±145, 3170±205
†¶
, 5919±616
†¶
, 3077±298
†¶
pmol/min)
vs
CNP (8±.8, 10±.6
†
, 11±.7
†
, 8±.5 pmol/ml; 976±110, 1104±115, 1317±103, 998±101 pmol/min, respectively). CD-NP also increased urine Na
+
excretion (19±4, 168±24
†§
, 237±26
†¶
, 96±12
†
μEq/min), urine flow (0.2±.1, 1.3±.2
†
, 1.8±.3
†
, 0.8±.2
†
ml/min), and GFR (37±2
‡
, 48±3
†
, 51±3
†
, 53±4
†
ml/min)
vs
CNP (36±12, 68±10, 85±26, 81±25 μEq/min; 0.4±.1, 0.9±.2, 1.2±.3*, 0.9±.3 ml/min; 52±5, 53±7, 50±4, 49±6 ml/min, respectively). CD-NP reduced PCWP (5.7±.7, 4.1±1*, 3.2±.7
†
, 4.3±.8 mmHg), RAP (1.8±.4, 1.1±.4
†
, 0.9±.5
†§
, 1.3±.5
§
mmHg), PAP (12±.6, 10±.4*, 10±.6, 11±.7 mmHg)
vs
CNP (6±.6, 5±.8, 6±.8, 7±.9
†
mmHg; 2.6±.3, 2.5±.3 to 2.9±.3 to 3.5±.5
†
mmHg; 13±1, 12±1, 12±1, 13±1 mmHg, respectively). Mean blood pressure was unchanged in either group. CD-NP increased circulating BNP during infusion
vs
CNP (40±4
vs
18±2 pg/ml, P<0.001).
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates the successful transformation of CNP to a CNP-like peptide with enhanced natriuretic, diuretic, GFR-enhancing, and cardiac-unloading actions. CD-NP may also promote increases in plasma BNP which via the NPR-A receptor may contribute to its biological actions. The therapeutic potential of CD-NP in heart failure warrants further studies.