Natriuretic Peptides, Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers

In humans, the natriuretic peptide family consists of three different types of \\npeptides: atrial natriuretic peptide (synonym: atrial natriuretic factor), B-type \\nnatriuretic peptide (synonym: brain natriuretic peptide) and C-natriuretic \\npeptide.1 Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was the fi rst natriuretic peptide to \\nbe discovered and in humans ANP is predominantly formed in the cardiomyocytes \\nof the atria.2 B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was fi rst discovered in \\nporcine brain hence its original name brain natriuretic peptide.3 In humans, \\nthe majority of BNP is formed in ventricular cardiomyocytes, and mRNA levels \\nin brain are negligible. Therefore, brain natriuretic peptide is now recognized \\nas B-type natriuretic peptide. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is basically a \\nneuropeptide, found in brain and vascular endothelial cells.