ANP produced from self-amplifying RNA improves cardiac function after MI

Research Highlight Published: 24 March 2026 Acute coronary syndromes Gregory B. Lim1 Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 23, page 302 (2026)Cite this article 214 Accesses 1 Altmetric Metrics details Treatment with self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) to increase the production of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) preserved ventricular function and reduced cardiac fibrosis in mouse and pig models of myocardial infarction (MI). This finding comes from a new study published in Science, in which the investigators induced ANP production using intramuscular injection of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing saRNA encoding the pro-protein of ANP (pro-ANP).ANP is an endogenous hormone released by the atria in response to stretch that has antihypertrophic, proangiogenic and antifibrotic effects on the heart. The expression of Nppa (encoding pro-ANP) is upregulated in the border zone after MI in neonatal mice and, to a lesser extent, in adult mice, which have worse adverse cardiac remodelling. Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that this reduced production of ANP in adult mice might underlie their attenuated myocardial regenerative capacity. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Subscribe to this