Adolfo J. de Bold
Encyclopedia
Adolfo J. de Bold, OC
, FRSC
(born 14 February 1942) is an Argentinian–Canadian cardiologist and cardiovascular researcher, best known for his discovery of atrial natriuretic peptide
, a polypeptide hormone
secreted by heart muscle cells.
, Argentina
, de Bold obtained a BSc in clinical biochemistry at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the National University of Córdoba
before moving to Canada
in 1968. His MSc (1972) and PhD (1973) are from the Department of Pathology at Queen's University
in Kingston, Ontario
, under the direction of Sergio Bencosme. He worked at Queen's University from 1974, rising to full professor in 1985. In 1986, he became director of research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
, a position he held until 1993.
As of 2008, de Bold is the Director of the Cardiovascular Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and also a Professor of Pathology and Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa
.
(ANP), a polypeptide hormone
secreted by heart muscle cells. This was the first demonstration that the heart has an endocrine function. De Bold's team went on to show that the heart modulates blood pressure, blood volume and cardiovascular growth via ANP. The discovery of ANP opened up a new field of research which has resulted in multiple therapeutic and diagnostic applications in heart failure.
(1986), Ernest C. Manning Principal Award (1986), Royal Society of Canada
McLaughlin Medal in Medical Research (1988), International Society for Hypertension Research Award (1990), CIBA Award of the American Heart Association
(1994) and the American Society for Hypertension Research Award. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario included the discovery of ANP among its top ten research discoveries of the past fifty years. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. In 1992, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(born 14 February 1942) is an Argentinian–Canadian cardiologist and cardiovascular researcher, best known for his discovery of atrial natriuretic peptide
Atrial natriuretic peptide
Atrial natriuretic peptide , atrial natriuretic factor , atrial natriuretic hormone , or atriopeptin, is a powerful vasodilator, and a protein hormone secreted by heart muscle cells. It is involved in the homeostatic control of body water, sodium, potassium and fat...
, a polypeptide hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
secreted by heart muscle cells.
Education and career
Born in ParanáParaná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, de Bold obtained a BSc in clinical biochemistry at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the National University of Córdoba
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
before moving to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1968. His MSc (1972) and PhD (1973) are from the Department of Pathology at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, under the direction of Sergio Bencosme. He worked at Queen's University from 1974, rising to full professor in 1985. In 1986, he became director of research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is Canada’s largest and foremost cardiovascular health centre. It began as a department in The Ottawa Hospital, and since has evolved into Canada’s only complete cardiac centre, encompassing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, research, and...
, a position he held until 1993.
As of 2008, de Bold is the Director of the Cardiovascular Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and also a Professor of Pathology and Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
.
Research
De Bold's research has focused on the study of storage granules in heart cells. In 1980, this work led to his discovery and isolation of atrial natriuretic peptideAtrial natriuretic peptide
Atrial natriuretic peptide , atrial natriuretic factor , atrial natriuretic hormone , or atriopeptin, is a powerful vasodilator, and a protein hormone secreted by heart muscle cells. It is involved in the homeostatic control of body water, sodium, potassium and fat...
(ANP), a polypeptide hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
secreted by heart muscle cells. This was the first demonstration that the heart has an endocrine function. De Bold's team went on to show that the heart modulates blood pressure, blood volume and cardiovascular growth via ANP. The discovery of ANP opened up a new field of research which has resulted in multiple therapeutic and diagnostic applications in heart failure.
Awards and honours
De Bold has received many awards for his work on ANP, including the Gairdner Foundation International AwardGairdner Foundation International Award
The Gairdner Foundation International Award is given annually at a special dinner to three to six people for outstanding discoveries or contributions to medical science. Receipt of the Gairdner is traditionally considered a precursor to winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine; as of 2007, 69 Nobel...
(1986), Ernest C. Manning Principal Award (1986), Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
McLaughlin Medal in Medical Research (1988), International Society for Hypertension Research Award (1990), CIBA Award of the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
(1994) and the American Society for Hypertension Research Award. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario included the discovery of ANP among its top ten research discoveries of the past fifty years. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. In 1992, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Key papers
- de Bold AJ, Borenstein HB, Veress AT, Sonnenberg H. (1981) A rapid and potent natriuretic response to intravenous injection of atrial myocardial extract in rats. Life Sci 28: 89–94 (PMID 7219045)
- Flynn TG, de Bold ML, de Bold AJ. (1983) The amino acid sequence of an atrial peptide with potent diuretic and natriuretic properties. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 117: 859-865 (PMID 6230081)
- de Bold AJ. (1985) Atrial natriuretic factor: a hormone produced by the heart. ScienceScience (journal)Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
230: 767–770 ( PMID 2932797)