Corin-mediated processing of pro-atrial natriuretic peptide in human small cell lung cancer cells

Corin is a recently discovered pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) convertase that is abundantly expressed in the heart. ANP is a cardiac hormone but can be secreted ectopically by certain cancers including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this study, we examined the role of corin in ANP production by SCLC cells. Reverse transcription-PCR detected corin mRNA expression in all nine SCLC cell lines examined and ANP mRNA expression in seven of the nine cell lines. In contrast, arginine vasopressin mRNA was detected in only five of the nine SCLC cell lines studied. Corin-expressing SCLC cells were capable of converting recombinant human pro-ANP to biologically active ANP, as determined by Western analysis and a cyclic GMP assay. Transfection of small interfering RNA duplexes directed against the corin gene completely blocked the processing of pro-ANP in the SCLC cells. Our results show that corin functions as a pro-ANP convertase in SCLC cells. We also suggest that the expression of corin may contribute to the pathogenesis of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone associated with certain cancers.