Pathophysiological Roles of Aldosterone and Mineralocorticoid Receptor in the Kidney

• Main Authors: Kazi Rafiq, Hirofumi Hitomi, Daisuke Nakano, Akira Nishiyama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2011-01-01
• Series: Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1347861319307935

Aldosterone, a steroid hormone, has traditionally been viewed as a key regulator of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, as well as blood pressure, through the activation of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). However, a number of studies performed in the last decade have revealed an important role of aldosterone/MR in the pathogenesis of renal injury. Aldosterone/MR-induced renal tissue injury is associated with increased renal inflammation and oxidative stress, fibrosis, mesangial cell proliferation, and podocyte injury, probably through genomic and non-genomic pathways. However, our preliminary data have indicated that acute administration of aldosterone or a selective MR antagonist, eplerenone, does not change blood pressure, heart rate, or renal blood flow. These data suggest that aldosterone/MR induces renal injury through mechanisms that are independent of acute changes in systemic and renal hemodynamics. In this review, we will briefly summarize the roles of aldosterone/MR in the pathogenesis of renal injury, focusing on the underlying mechanisms that are independent of systemic and renal hemodynamic changes. Keywords:: aldosterone, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), renal injury, eplerenone, renal blood flow