Neutral Endopeptidase Is Activated in Cardiomyocytes in Human Aortic Valve Stenosis and Heart Failure

Abstract
Background — The regulation of the cardiac neutral endopeptidase (EC 24.10, NEP) that degrades bradykinin and natriuretic peptides has been investigated in human cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Methods and Results — NEP mRNA was quantitated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in left ventricular biopsies from patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS, n=19) and heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n=14), and control subjects with normal systolic function (CON, n=14). Left ventricular NEP mRNA content was increased 3-fold in AS ( P P P P Conclusions — Elevated cardiac NEP activity in pressure loaded and failing human hearts may increase the local degradation of bradykinin and natriuretic peptides.