Development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy is frequently linked to increased mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), according to studies in both human and animal models [302,303], as well as an increase in the plasma levels of ANP and BNP with the severity of heart failure. The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is cardiac hypertrophy.