Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits endothelin-1-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in cultured rat mesangial cells.

In cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells, endothelin-1 (ET-1) activated both pp 44 and pp 42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) inhibited ET-1-induced activation of both pp 44 and pp 42 MAP kinases. ANP also inhibited ET-1-induced translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) and TPA-induced activation of MAP kinase. These results indicate that ANP modulates the functions of mesangial cells, including proliferation and contraction through the inhibition of ET-1-induced activation of MAP kinase in various steps proximal to MAP kinase.