Characterization of molecular forms of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide in vitro.

Background: The heterogeneity of circulating peptides may influence the interpretation of results from N-terminal profragment of BNP (NT-proBNP) assays. Our objective was to characterize the heterogeneity for better usability of the assays.

Methods: Endogenous proBNP was purified from patient samples and treated with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (chemical deglycosylation).

Increased fetal cardiac natriuretic peptide secretion in type-1 diabetic pregnancies.

Background: We hypothesised that human fetal cardiac natriuretic peptide secretion is increased in type-1 diabetic pregnancies with normal placental hemodynamics, and this increase is related to the first trimester maternal glycemic control.

Methods: Thirty-two neonates of type-1 diabetic mothers and 60 neonates born after uncomplicated pregnancy and labour (control group) were included in this study. Diabetic pregnancies were divided into two subgroups based on the first trimester HbA1c value.

N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide level inversely correlates with cardiac index after arterial switch operation in neonates.

Background: Natriuretic peptide levels are associated with cardiac output and ventricular function. We hypothesized that concomitant measurement of the peptide fragments and the hemodynamic parameters could elucidate the associations of these parameters after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Methods: After approval of the institutional review board and parents' informed consent, we investigated the clinical data of eight neonates undergoing correction of transposition of the great arteries.

Plasma N-terminal fragments of natriuretic propeptides predict the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in middle-aged men.

Aims: The prognostic significance of N-terminal pro-A-type (NT-proANP) and pro-B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) is not well documented in population-based prospective studies. We, therefore, studied if both NT-proANP and NT-proBNP are predictive for overall death, cardiovascular events, and atrial fibrillation (AF) among middle-aged men without heart failure or AF at baseline.

Methods And Results: Plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP were measured in a representative population-based sample of 905 men (age 46-65 years) from eastern Finland.

BNP as a biomarker in heart disease.

Heart ventricles produce B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in response to increased mechanical load and wall stretch. BNP protects the heart from adverse consequences of overload by increasing natriuresis and diuresis, relaxing vascular smooth muscle, inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and by counteracting cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. BNP is synthesized by human cardiac myocytes as a 108-amino acid prohormone (proBNP), which is cleaved to the 32-residue BNP and the 76-residue N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP).

Single assay for amino-terminal fragments of cardiac A- and B-type natriuretic peptides.

Background: High circulating concentrations of N-terminal fragments of A- and B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proANP and NT-proBNP) identify patients with impaired cardiac function. ProANP-derived peptides are particularly sensitive to increased preload of the heart and proBNP-derived peptides to increased afterload; therefore, combining the information from the ANP and BNP systems into a single analyte could produce an assay with increased diagnostic and prognostic power.

Methods: We prepared a hybrid peptide containing peptide sequences from both NT-proBNP and NT-proANP (referred to as NT-proXNP) by recombinant techniques and used it to develop a RIA combining weighed concentrations of NT-proANP and NT-proBNP into a new virtual analyte, NT-proXNP.

Molecular heterogeneity has a major impact on the measurement of circulating N-terminal fragments of A- and B-type natriuretic peptides.

Background: The N-terminal fragments of A- and B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proANP and NT-proBNP) are powerful markers of cardiac function. The current assays require refinement with regard to standardization with native calibrators and the ability to detect the actual circulating forms.

Methods: The following peptides were prepared with recombinant methods: NT-proANP, NT-proBNP, proBNP1-108, and Tyr0-proBNP77-108.