Publication Date
1-1-2023
Journal
Basic to Translational Science - JACC
DOI
10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.05.010
PMID
36777165
PMCID
PMC9911324
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
9-7-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
neprilysin, neprilysin inhibitor, NEP inhibitor, angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor, ARNi, heart failure, sacubitril, sacubitril/valsartan
Abstract
This article provides a contemporary review and a new perspective on the role of neprilysin inhibition in heart failure (HF) in the context of recent clinical trials and addresses potential mechanisms and unanswered questions in certain HF patient populations. Neprilysin is an endopeptidase that cleaves a variety of peptides such as natriuretic peptides, bradykinin, adrenomedullin, substance P, angiotensin I and II, and endothelin. It has a broad role in cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and neurologic functions. The combined angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) has been developed with an intent to increase vasodilatory natriuretic peptides and prevent counterregulatory activation of the angiotensin system. ARNi therapy is very effective in reducing the risks of death and hospitalization for HF in patients with HF and New York Heart Association functional class II to III symptoms, but studies failed to show any benefits with ARNi when compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker in patients with advanced HF with reduced ejection fraction or in patients following myocardial infarction with left ventricular dysfunction but without HF. These raise the questions about whether the enzymatic breakdown of natriuretic peptides may not be a very effective solution in advanced HF patients when there is downstream blunting of the response to natriuretic peptides or among post-myocardial infarction patients in the absence of HF when there may not be a need for increased natriuretic peptide availability. Furthermore, there is a need for additional studies to determine the long-term effects of ARNi on albuminuria, obesity, glycemic control and lipid profile, blood pressure, and cognitive function in patients with HF.
Graphical Abstract
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Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons, Cardiology Commons, Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Medical Sciences Commons