What is C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)?

The vascular and bone-growth member of the natriuretic family. Structurally it is Natriuretic peptide (22 aa, CNP-22).

How strong is the evidence for CNP?

PeptideHormone grades CNP at the "Established" evidence tier — its mechanism and core effects are settled across the peer-reviewed literature. It is catalogued as an endogenous signal the body produces itself, and the tier is an editorial judgment about the public literature that can change as the science does.

What is the half-life of CNP?

The reported circulating half-life of CNP is ~2–3 min.

C-type natriuretic peptideCNP

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

EndogenousEstablished

The natriuretic peptide that mostly stayed out of the bloodstream, working locally in vessel wall and growth plate instead.

Identity

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

Key properties

Evidence floorClinicalREF1CLIN1

Molecular weight

~2,197 Da

REF

Half-life (native)

~2–3 min

CLIN

Model dosing

Approximate values for the native hormone; engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting. Each figure carries its own provenance tier, and the floor is the weakest of them - the Standard.

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.

Common questions

What is C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)?: The vascular and bone-growth member of the natriuretic family. Structurally it is Natriuretic peptide (22 aa, CNP-22).
How does CNP work?: 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.
How strong is the evidence for CNP?: PeptideHormone grades CNP at the "Established" evidence tier — its mechanism and core effects are settled across the peer-reviewed literature. It is catalogued as an endogenous signal the body produces itself, and the tier is an editorial judgment about the public literature that can change as the science does.
What is the half-life of CNP?: The reported circulating half-life of CNP is ~2–3 min.

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

External references

CNP in the public knowledge graph — the same entity resolved across the authoritative chemistry and protein databases.