Cardiac Biomarker Assays for Clinical and Preclinical use

Natriuretic peptides are a group of hormones that play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, blood volume, and fluid balance in the body. They are primarily produced by the heart in response to increased blood volume and pressure. The main types of natriuretic peptides include:

1. B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP): Primarily produced by the ventricles of the heart, BNP also promotes natriuresis and diuresis (increased urine production) and is a marker used in diagnosing and assessing heart failure (1). Elevated levels of BNP in the blood can indicate heart strain or underlying heart failure. Measurement of BNP or NT-proBNP (the inactive fragment of pro-BNP) levels is commonly used in clinical settings to evaluate patients with suspected heart failure or to monitor the severity of heart disease.

Both BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide) are important biomarkers used in the assessment of heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions. However, measuring NT-proBNP has some advantages:

-Stability in Blood Samples: NT-proBNP is more stable than BNP in blood samples. NT-proBNP levels remain stable for a longer time, making it more reliable for laboratory handling and storage conditions. BNP, on the other hand, has a shorter half-life and is more susceptible to degradation.

-Longer Half-Life: NT-proBNP has a longer half-life compared to BNP (approximately 60-120 minutes for NT-proBNP vs. 20 minutes for BNP). This longer half-life allows for more consistent detection in patients, especially in acute settings.

 

2. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP): Secreted by the atria of the heart, ANP helps to lower blood pressure by promoting the excretion of sodium (natriuresis) and water by the kidneys. It also inhibits the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which is responsible for increasing blood volume and pressure. Studies have shown that NT-proANP levels are higher in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) than in controls (2).

 

 3. C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP): CNP is primarily produced in the endothelial cells and has a role in vascular biology, promoting vasodilation and inhibiting smooth muscle proliferation. CNP is a cardioprotective peptide with high affinity for the ectoenzyme neutral endopeptidase (neprilysin). A recent study investigated if an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor treatment acutely affects circulating concentrations of bioactive CNP and its molecular amino-terminal precursor (NT-proCNP). The results of the study showed that Sacubitril/valsartan treatment leads to an increase of  circulating concentrations of both bioactive CNP and NT-proCNP in healthy young men (3).

 

Top quality ELISA kits for your clinical & preclinical research

•  NT-proBNP – human (CE-marked in EU) (cat. no. SK-1204)
• NT-proBNP – rat (new!)  (cat. no. BI-1204R)
• NT-proANP – human, rodent (cat. no. BI-20892) citations rat/mouse
• NT-proCNP- human (cat. no. BI-20812)

 

• widely cited in over 450 publications
• kit validation follows international quality guidelines

 

 

Literature

1. Practical algorithms for early diagnosis of heart failure and heart stress using NT-proBNP: A clinical consensus statement from the Heart Failure Association of the ESC. Bayes-Genis A, Docherty KF, Petrie MC, Januzzi JL, Mueller C, Anderson L, Bozkurt B, Butler J, Chioncel O, Cleland JGF, Christodorescu R, Del Prato S, Gustafsson F, Lam CSP, Moura B, Pop-Busui R, Seferovic P, Volterrani M, Vaduganathan M, Metra M, Rosano G.Eur J Heart Fail. 2023 Nov;25(11):1891-1898. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.3036. Epub 2023 Sep 26. PMID: 37712339.
2. NT-proANP levels in peripheral and cardiac circulation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. Büttner P, Seewöster T, Obradovic D, Hindricks G, Thiele H, Kornej J.2022 Mar;63(2):409-415. doi: 10.1007/s10840-021-01020-z. Epub 2021 Jun 25. PMID:
3. Circulating Concentrations of C-Type Natriuretic Peptides Increase with Sacubitril/Valsartan Treatment in Healthy Young Men. Thonsgaard S, Prickett TCR, Hansen LH, Wewer Albrechtsen NJ, Andersen UØ, Terzic D, Plomgaard P, Gustafsson F, Goetze JP, Mark PD. Clin Chem. 2022 May 18;68(5):713-720. doi: 10.1093/clinchem/hvac005. PMID: 35175317.