Cardiovascular / Vasoactive Research Peptides Guide

This guide covers 6 research peptides in the Cardiovascular / Vasoactive category. Each compound is evaluated on its evidence base, mechanism, safety profile, and current clinical status.

Evidence: A | Status: FDA-approved (Giapreza, December 2017) for vasodilatory shock in adults

Angiotensin II is an endogenous 8-amino-acid peptide (sequence: Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe, MW ~1046.2 g/mol) that serves as the primary effector of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).

Use cases: Critical Care, Vasopressor Therapy

Evidence: D | Status: Preclinical and early-phase research. No approved therapeutic indication.

Angiotensin 1-7 is an endogenous 7-amino-acid peptide (sequence: Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro, MW ~899.0 g/mol) formed primarily by ACE2-mediated cleavage of angiotensin II.

Use cases: Research, Cardiovascular Biology

Evidence: B | Status: Reference peptide. Not used therapeutically. Clinically relevant as mediator of ACE inhibitor side effects and hereditary angioedema.

Bradykinin is a 9-amino-acid vasoactive peptide (sequence: Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg, MW ~1060.2 g/mol) generated by the kallikrein-kinin system through proteolytic cleavage of high-molecular-weight kininogen by plasma kallikrein.

Use cases: Reference, Pharmacology Education, Hereditary Angioedema Research

Evidence: B | Status: Reference peptide. Not used therapeutically. Endothelin receptor antagonists (bosentan, ambrisentan, macitentan) are FDA-approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21-amino-acid peptide (MW ~2491.9 g/mol) produced primarily by vascular endothelial cells. It is the most potent endogenous vasoconstrictor known, with effects lasting hours.

Use cases: Reference, Pulmonary Hypertension Research, Cardiovascular Biology

Evidence: D | Status: Preclinical and early-phase clinical investigation. No approved therapeutic indication.

Apelin is an endogenous peptide ligand for the APJ receptor (APLNR), existing in multiple bioactive forms including apelin-13, apelin-17, and apelin-36 derived from a 77-amino-acid preproapelin precursor.

Use cases: Cardiovascular Research, Heart Failure Research

Evidence: D | Status: Research stage. MR-proADM used as prognostic biomarker in sepsis and heart failure. No approved therapeutic use of adrenomedullin peptide.

Adrenomedullin is a 52-amino-acid vasodilatory peptide (MW ~6028 g/mol) originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma tissue.

Use cases: Sepsis Prognostication, Heart Failure Biomarker, Cardiovascular Research