Transcription of Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Atria1 Natriuretic Peptide Genes in Human Tissues.

We have compared the expression of atria1 natriuretic peptide (ANP)
and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) genes in various human tissues
using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. Tissues
of three human subjects, obtained at autopsy, were analyzed. BNP
transcripts could be detected in the central nervous system, lung,
thyroid, adrenal, kidney, spleen, small intestine, ovary, uterus,
and striated muscle. ANP transcripts could also be demonstrated in
various human extracardiac tissues including several endocrine
organs. In all periphera1 tissues, the level of both natriuretic
peptide transcripts was approximately l-2 orders of magnitude lower
than in cardiac ventricular tissues. This distribution is in marked
contrast to the much lower level of ANP and BNP transcripts present
in extracardiac rat tissues (generally less than l/1000 of
ventricles). These data suggest differential expression of the two
natriuretic peptide genes in cardiac and extracardiac tissues in
man. Furthermore, the presence of local synthesis of ANP and BNP in
various peripheral organs su gests paracrine and/or autocrine
function of these natriuretic peptides.