Js. Mclay et al., ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-FACTOR MODULATES NITRIC-OXIDE PRODUCTION - AN ANF-C RECEPTOR-MEDIATED EFFECT, Journal of hypertension, 13(6), 1995, pp. 625-630
Objectives: To investigate the possible immunomodulatory and regulator
y functions of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and the natriuretic pep
tide C (NPR-C) receptor in the control of cytokine-stimulated nitric o
xide production in primary cultures of human proximal tubular cells. M
ethods: Freshly prepared human proximal tubular cells were seeded on p
lastic plates and allowed to reach confluence. The confluent cells wer
e then incubated with ANF or cyclic((4-23))ANF (C-(4-23)ANF) alone, or
preincubated with ANF or C-(4-23)ANF before incubation with the nitri
c oxide-stimulating combination of cytokines interleukin-1 beta (10 u/
ml), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (10 ng/ml) and interferon-gamma (100
u/ml). Results: In the present series of experiments we have found th
at incubation of primary cultures of human proximal tubular cells with
ANF or C-(4-23)ANF stimulates nitric oxide production dose-dependentl
y, Paradoxically, ANF acting via the NPR-C receptor also inhibits cyto
kine activation of the enzyme-inducible nitric oxide synthase via a cy
clic GMP-independent mechanism. Both of these effects were reproduced
by the NPR-C receptor-specific ligand C-(4-23)ANF. Conclusions: These
findings represent novel actions of ANF mediated via the NPR-C recepto
r. The results also provide a simple model system in which to study th
e subcellular mechanisms of NPR-C receptor activation.