Participation of the mineralocorticoid receptor in cardiac and vascular remodeling.
The mineralocorticoid receptor mediates the effects of aldosterone. In addition to its influence on fluid and electrolyte, aldosterone plays a role in cardiac hypertrophy, tissue fibrosis, and modulation of vascular reactivity. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms induced by aldosterone are not fully understood. Aldosterone causes slow transcriptional and rapid non-transcriptional effects. The latter include changes in intracellular calcium, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellularly regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. In addition, autocrine loops involving other molecules such as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor are also important in aldosterone-induced cellular mechanisms. This short review covers in vitro and in vivo studies that have investigated the pathophysiological role of aldosterone and the mineralocorticoid receptor in the cardiovascular system.
Fiebeler
Anette
A
Medical University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany. fiebeler@fvk-berlin.de
Haller
Hermann
H
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D051381:Rats; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D000450:Aldosterone