Degradation of human brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) by contact activationof blood coagulation system

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were a dded to venous blood samples from healthy volunteers, and incubated in tube s made of various materials. The residual immunoreactivity was measured wit h radioimmunoassay for BNP and ANP. In blood samples stored in glass tubes, immunoreactivity of ANP was more stable than that of BNP. In siliconized g lass or PET tubes, however, BNP immunoreactivity was more stable than ANP. The activation of blood coagulation factors was evaluated from the kallikre in activity in plasma. Kallikrein activity was increased in plasma stored i n grass tube while it was negligible in plasma stored in siliconized glass or PET tubes. In kaolin-activated plasma, more rapid BNP degradation and hi gher kallikrein activity were observed. Our results indicated that the bloo d coagulation factors, especially kallikrein, played an important role in d igestion of BNP. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.