EFFECT OF GLUCOCORTICOIDS ON THE BINDING OF ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE TO ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

Cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were found to possess specific, high affinity receptors for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). When cells which had been maintained in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum were placed in serum-free medium for 24 h, there was a 50% decrease in ANP receptor density. Addition of hydrocortisone (20 μM) or dexamethasone (1 μM) to the serum-free medium for 48 h resulted in an increase in ANP binding sites with no change in the affinity of the sites for ANP. The glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486 (1 μM) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the binding of ANP to cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells in the presence of 1% fetal bovine serum. These results suggest a role for glucocorticoids in the regulation of ANP receptors on vascular endothelial cells. © 1990.