Abstract: Heart failure(HF) is the end stage of many cardiovascular diseases. Both the neurohumor overactivation and ventricular remodeling are the critical pathophysiological processes of HF. It has been demonstrated that the serum level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is elevated obviously in HF patients. As a circulatory hormone, BNP is mainly produced in cardiac ventricle. Through the natriuretic receptor (NPR)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP) pathway, BNP performs the properties of natriuresis, diuresis, vasodilatation, enhancing vagal reflex and inhibiting sympathetic activity, which can improve the hemodynamic of HF without activation of plasma renin. It has been reported that BNP has effects of antihypertrophic and antifibrotic and plays a role in the antiventricular remodeling. In a word, BNP plays an important role of cardioprotection in the development and prognosis of HF though the local autocrine and /orparacrine ways.

Key words: heart failure, neurohumor, antihypertrophy, antifibrotic, cyclic guanosine monophosphate