Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase)
 8,497 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The original observation by de Bold et al. (1981) of a rapid, massive, and short-lasting diuretic and natriuretic effect following injection of rat atrial extracts into intact rats, led to the identification, isolation and purification of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). ANF is stored in atrial myocytes and released into the blood stream by atrial distension. Available data suggest that the mechanism of ANF-induced natriuresis involves either renal hemodynamic effects, such as the increase in glomerular filtration rate and reduction of medullary tonicity, or direct effect on sodium transport in the medullary collecting ducts. ANF induces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, decreases blood pressure and cardiac output. All these effects displayed by ANF are associated to the an inhibition of aldosterone, renin and vasopressin release. Most of these actions are mediated by specific high affinity receptors, which are coupled to a particulate guanylate cyclase. Although ANF levels are increased in some disorders, such as severe heart failure, hypertension, chronic renal failure, the role of the peptide is uncertain. To better define the potential physiopathological role and the possible therapeutic implications of this new hormonal system in conditions of disturbed body fluid and sodium homeostasis, further experimental and clinical data must be awaited.
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PMID:[The physiopathological aspects of the atrial natriuretic factor]. 131 27

Guanylin is a 15-amino acid peptide that acts on intestinal guanylate cyclase, thereby regulating intestinal fluid and electrolyte transport through the second messenger, cyclic GMP. Using synthetic rat guanylin, we prepared an antiserum that recognizes human and rat guanylin equally on a molar basis and developed a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA). The major endogenous guanylin molecule in human intestine and plasma is 10-kDa proguanylin, 15-amino acid guanylin being a minor component. Human guanylin is distributed widely from the duodenum to colon, the highest contents being in the ileum and proximal colon. The plasma concentration of immunoreactive guanylin in the normal individuals tested was 31.2 +/- 3.0 fmol/ml (mean +/- SE) and that in patients with chronic renal failure who were undergoing hemodialysis 7,924 +/- 2,140 fmol/ml. The RIA we established is a promising tool for clarifying the physiological functions and pathophysiological significance of guanylin in water and electrolyte homeostasis.
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PMID:Identification of 10-kDa proguanylin as a major guanylin molecule in human intestine and plasma and its increase in renal insufficiency. 781 Dec 89

Nitric oxide is widely distributed in the body. It has an important role in the regulation of the circulation and as yet, ill-defined roles in nervous and immune systems. It is derived from L-arginine from a reaction catalysed by a constitutive intracellular enzyme, nitric oxide synthase. It is recognised as the endogenous nitrovasodilator whose action is mimicked by all exogenous nitrovasodilators. After production in the vascular endothelial cell, it diffuses to the smooth muscle cell where it activates the enzyme guanylate cyclase which leads to an increase in cyclic GMP and thence to muscle relaxation. The duration of its action is brief, a few seconds. Disorders of NO metabolism underlie many disease states including endotoxic shock in which prolonged production of nitric oxide may be induced by cytokines. Deficiencies in endogenous production may account for hypertension in various disease states including atherosclerosis and chronic renal failure. NO therapy been used experimentally to successfully treat idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with cardiac and respiratory diseases. However, the long-term benefits have yet to be studied. Administration of NO requires the use of a device to monitor the concentrations of both NO and of NO2. The latter is a noxious agent and a time-related product of the reaction between NO and O2 and is a possible contaminant of preparations of NO. Precautions must be taken to prevent contamination of the work-place atmosphere with NO and NO2. These include gas scavenging and the use of a leak-free system for spontaneous and mechanical ventilation. Using NO in its gaseous form, clinicians have at long last been provided with the means to treat pulmonary hypertension without adversely causing systemic hypotension. The therapy is most suited to short-term use in mechanically ventilated patients. Safe practical long-term NO therapy must await the development of agents which release NO from aerosol preparations.
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PMID:The role of nitric oxide (formerly endothelium-derived relaxing factor-EDRF) in vasodilatation and vasodilator therapy. 812 32

Uroguanylin, a 16-amino acid peptide, is an endogenous activator of intestinal and possibly renal guanylate cyclase C (GC-C). Using two synthetic topological isoforms of human uroguanylin, one bioactive, the other inactive, we prepared two antisera specific for the individual isoforms and developed sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIAs). The respective plasma concentrations of the bioactive and inactive uroguanylins in the normal individuals tested were 5.0 +/- 0.3 fmol/ml (mean +/- SE) and 1.6 +/- 0.1 fmol/ml. These concentrations increased in chronic renal failure (CRF). The major endogenous uroguanylin molecule in normal human urine was 16 amino acids long, whereas in the plasma and urine of CRF patients the major molecule was 10-kDa prouroguanylin. The RlAs established are promising tools for clarifying the physiological functions and pathophysiological implications of uroguanylin in water and electrolyte homeostasis.
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PMID:Identification of biologically active and inactive human uroguanylins in plasma and urine and their increases in renal insufficiency. 860 8

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone with a spectrum of activities quite similar to those of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), including diuretic, natriuretic, hypotensive and smooth muscle relaxant activities. These effects are due to the stimulation of guanylate cyclase-linked natriuretic peptide receptors, leading to an increase in cyclic GMP concentration in target cells. BNP has a lower affinity than ANP for C (clearance) receptors, and is less susceptible to degradation by neutral endopeptidase-24.11, resulting in a longer half-life. In the kidney, BNP increases the glomerular filtration rate and inhibits sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule. It also inhibits the release of renin and aldosterone. Unlike ANP, produced by the atria, BNP is mainly synthesized and released into circulation by the left ventricle and is therefore influenced by stimuli involving this cardiac chamber, such as an increase in arterial pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation. Plasma BNP levels are very low in healthy subjects, and respond modestly, although significantly to physiological stimuli such as changes in posture or sodium intake. In contrast, plasma BNP concentrations increase in disease states such as cirrhosis with ascites, hypertension, chronic renal failure, acute myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. In the latter condition, plasma BNP concentration is a reliable prognostic index. Evidence obtained by administering BNP to healthy subjects and hypertensive patients suggests that BNP, at physiological and pathophysiological plasma concentrations, markedly influences cardiovascular homeostasis, mainly due to its effects on sodium excretion and the renin-aldosterone axis.
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PMID:[Brain natriuretic peptide]. 871 58

Guanylin, a peptide homologue of the bacterial heat-stable enterotoxins, is an endogenous activator of guanylate cyclase C (GC-C). We determined the tissue content and plasma concentration of human guanylin, and its cellular source in the intestine. Human guanylin is distributed widely from the duodenum to the rectum, the highest content being in the ileum and proximal colon. The plasma concentration of immunoreactive guanylin in the normal individuals tested was 30.3 +/- 3.7 fmol/ml (mean +/- SE) and that in patients with chronic renal failure was elevated with increasing serum creatinine concentration. Guanylin immunoreactivity was detected in the villus epithelial cells in the small intestine and these guanylin-containing cells were increased in number along the cephalocaudal axis of the gut. Guanylin was also present in Paneth cells in the small intestine and superficial epithelial cells in the large intestine. Guanylin mRNA was detected in the intestine by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Guanylin may have paracrine action on neighboring enterocytes, activating intestinal guanylate cyclase and thereby regulating intestinal fluid as well as electrolyte transport through the second messenger, cyclic GMP.
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PMID:Tissue distribution and plasma concentration of human guanylin. 878 47

The nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)/cyclic guanosine monophasphate (cGMP)-signalling pathway is impaired under oxidative stress conditions due to oxidation and subsequent loss of the prosthetic sGC heme group as observed in particular in chronic renal failure. Thus, the pool of heme free sGC is increased under pathological conditions. sGC activators such as cinaciguat selectively activate the heme free form of sGC and target the disease associated enzyme. In this study, a therapeutic effect of long-term activation of heme free sGC by the sGC activator cinaciguat was investigated in an experimental model of salt-sensitive hypertension, a condition that is associated with increased oxidative stress, heme loss from sGC and development of chronic renal failure. For that purpose Dahl/ss rats, which develop severe hypertension upon high salt intake, were fed a high salt diet (8% NaCl) containing either placebo or cinaciguat for 21 weeks. Cinaciguat markedly improved survival and ameliorated the salt-induced increase in blood pressure upon treatment with cinaciguat compared to placebo. Renal function was significantly improved in the cinaciguat group compared to the placebo group as indicated by a significantly improved glomerular filtration rate and reduced urinary protein excretion. This was due to anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of the cinaciguat treatment. Taken together, this is the first study showing that long-term activation of heme free sGC leads to renal protection in an experimental model of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. These results underline the promising potential of cinaciguat to treat renal diseases by targeting the disease associated heme free form of sGC.
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PMID:Chronic Activation of Heme Free Guanylate Cyclase Leads to Renal Protection in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats. 2671 50