C2238 atrial natriuretic peptide molecular variant is associated with endothelial damage and dysfunction through natriuretic peptide receptor C signaling

Sebastiano Sciarretta, Simona Marchitti, Franca Bianchi, Amie Moyes, Emanuele Barbato, Sara Di Castro, Rosita Stanzione, Maria Cotugno, Lorenzo Castello, Camilla Calvieri, Ivano Eberini, Junichi Sadoshima, Adrian J. Hobbs, Massimo Volpe, Speranza Rubattu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rationale: C2238 atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) minor allele (substitution of thymidine with cytosine in position 2238) associates with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Objective: We investigated the mechanisms underlying the vascular effects of C2238-αANP. Methods and Results: In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cell were exposed to either wild-type (T2238)- or mutant (C2238)-αANP. Cell survival and apoptosis were tested by Trypan blue, annexin V, and cleaved caspase-3 assays. C2238-αANP significantly reduced human umbilical vein endothelial cell survival and increased apoptosis. In addition, C2238-αANP reduced endothelial tube formation, as assessed by matrigel. C2238-αANP did not differentially modulate natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-A/B activity with respect to T2238-αANP, as evaluated by intracellular cGMP levels. In contrast, C2238-αANP, but not T2238-αANP, markedly reduced intracellular cAMP levels in an NPR-C-dependent manner. Accordingly, C2238-αANP showed higher affinity binding to NPR-C, than T2238-αANP. Either NPR-C inhibition by antisense oligonucleotide or NPR-C gene silencing by small interfering RNA rescued survival and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell exposed to C2238-αANP. Similar data were obtained in human aortic endothelial cell with NPR-C knockdown. NPR-C activation by C2238-αANP inhibited the protein kinase A/Akt1 pathway and increased reactive oxygen species. Adenovirusmediated Akt1 reactivation rescued the detrimental effects of C2238-αANP. Overall, these data indicate that C2238-αANP affects endothelial cell integrity through NPR-C-dependent inhibition of the cAMP/protein kinase A/Akt1 pathway and increased reactive oxygen species production. Accordingly, C2238-αANP caused impairment of acetylcholine-dependent vasorelaxation ex vivo, which was rescued by NPR-C pharmacological inhibition. Finally, subjects carrying C2238 minor allele showed early endothelial dysfunction, which highlights the clinical relevance of our results. Conclusions: C2238-αANP reduces endothelial cell survival and impairs endothelial function through NPR-C signaling. NPR-C targeting represents a potential strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk in C2238 minor-allele carriers.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)1355-1364
Number of pages10
JournalCirculation Research
Volume112
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Keywords

  • Akt
  • Atrial natriuretic peptide
  • Endothelial dysfunction
  • Natriuretic peptide receptor type C
  • T2238C gene variant

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