Figure 1.
Local action of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in cardiomyocytes. ANP is secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to cardiac stress. After secretion, ANP binds to the natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) and activates the cGMP/PKG pathway. Anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic effects of ANP occur through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. Arrow-headed lines indicate activation, whereas bar-headed lines indicate inhibition. Legend: c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP); extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK); mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1); natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR-A); nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT); p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs); protein kinases G (PKG). See text for further details. The figure was made using tools provided by Servier Medical Arts, amongst others.