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Hypoxia stimulates the synthesis and release of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in RPE cells
Author(s) -
ARJAMAA O,
AALTONEN V
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.f106.x
Subject(s) - natriuretic peptide , retina , hypoxia (environmental) , brain natriuretic peptide , retinal , stimulus (psychology) , endocrinology , medicine , peptide , npr2 , retinal pigment epithelium , npr1 , biology , chemistry , ophthalmology , neuroscience , biochemistry , oxygen , heart failure , psychology , organic chemistry , psychotherapist
Purpose Blood flow and oxygen availability of the retina are modulated by locally produced peptides that also can change the function of neurons. The natriuretic peptide system has been isolated and characterized in human retina and these peptides localize in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. A high concentration of natriuretic peptides has been previously measured from the vitreous of patients suffering of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). However, the stimulus to which the natriuretic peptide system responds in PDR has remained unknown. We hypothesized that hypoxic conditions will increase the synthesis and release of Brain Natriutretic peptide (BNP) from human RPE cell culture. Methods Human RPE cell were exposed to hypoxia for several hours. Samples were collected at time intervals and analyzed for BNP peptide and for BNP mRNA. A simultaneous measurement of VEGF served as a positive control. Results In hypoxic conditions RPE cells secreted statistically significant amounts of BNP. Conclusion These findings characterize for the first time a stimulus for the natriuretic peptide system in the retina and explain previous clinical findings. Thus, the measurement of natriuretic peptides from the vitreous may guide the treatment of the intraocular diseases in which the retina is suffering from hypoxia.