DIFFERENTIAL GENE-EXPRESSION OF VASCULAR NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE RECEPTORSUBTYPE IN ARTERY AND VEIN

Although the vasorelaxation by natriuretic peptide (NP) is much less p otent in the vein than in the artery, mechanism underlying the phenome non remains unknown. Since NP receptor consists of three subtypes with different functions, we determined the mRNA level of each NP receptor subtype in the artery and vein by ribonuclease protection assay. In t he aorta, NP-A receptor related to the biological action of NP was the predominant form. By contrast, NP-C receptor related mainly to the cl earance of NP was the predominant form in the inferior vena cava: NP-C mRNA level was about two fold higher than in the aorta, while both NP -A and NP-B receptor mRNA levels were about half of that in the aorta. These results provide the molecular basis for the different biologica l response to NP in the artery and vein. Differential gene expression of NP receptor subtype could be an important determinant of the biolog ical actions of NP. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.