C-type natriuretic peptideCNP

The vascular and bone-growth member of the natriuretic family.

EndogenousEstablished

Identity

Class: Natriuretic peptide (22 aa, CNP-22)
Source: Vascular endothelium, CNS, and growth plate
Receptor: Natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B)

Key properties

Molecular weight

~2,197 Da

Half-life (native)

~2–3 min

Model dosing

Approximate values for the native hormone. Engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting.

Mechanism

Unlike ANP and BNP, CNP acts mainly locally through NPR-B, influencing vascular tone and — importantly — endochondral bone growth at the growth plate, where its pathway is a target in some skeletal disorders.

Reference notes

CNP signals through NPR-B, a different receptor from ANP/BNP's NPR-A.
It is a key regulator of long-bone growth at the growth plate.
Its role is more paracrine (local) than systemic.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

1.C-type natriuretic peptide · Peptides, 1996 · PMID 8959763
2.The natriuretic peptide system in heart failure: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications · Pharmacology & therapeutics, 2021 · PMID 33894277