Chronic endothelin receptor blockade prevents both early hyperfiltration and late overt diabetic nephropathy in the rat.
Diabetic nephropathy is associated with enhanced renal synthesis of endothelin (ET)-1. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of dual ET receptor antagonism in the early phase (2 months) and in the late phase (5 months) of diabetic nephropathy in rats, and to compare this approach to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. Four groups of uninephrectomized streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were assigned to receive orally vehicle, bosentan, enalapril, or their combination. A fifth group consisted of nondiabetic, uninephrectomized rats. At 2 weeks, untreated diabetic rats exhibited increased glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow. Bosentan, enalapril, and the combination all prevented hyperfiltration and hyperperfusion. By 5 months, diabetic rats developed marked increases in mean arterial pressure and renal vascular resistance, progressive proteinuria, and renal structural damage with glomerular sclerosis and hypertrophy. Bosentan completely prevented the development of hypertension and renal vasoconstriction, and largely prevented the development of proteinuria and renal structural injury. The renal protective effect of bosentan was comparable to that of enalapril or the combination, although its anti-proteinuric effect was less. Clinical studies are warranted to assess whether ET receptor antagonism can have additive effects on top of ACE inhibition, the current treatment of choice in diabetic nephropathy.
Ding
Shuang-Shuang
SS
Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Allschwil, Switzerland.
Qiu
Changbin
C
Hess
Patrick
P
Xi
Jian-Fei
JF
Zheng
Nan
N
Clozel
Martine
M
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000077300:Bosentan; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D004656:Enalapril; D000077300:Bosentan