title: Aldosterone target organ protection by eplerenone.
abstract: The classical mineralocorticoid effect of aldosterone on unidirectional transepithelial sodium transport in the kidney was long thought to be the predominant effect of this hormone. However, there is convincing evidence for additional extrarenal actions of aldosterone that are mediated via activation of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) in the heart, vasculature and brain. It is now postulated that many of the detrimental effects of aldosterone are mediated through MR activation in these nonclassical target organs. The selective aldosterone blocker, eplerenone (Inspra), is under development for human therapeutic use for treatment of hypertension and heart failure post-myocardial infarction (MI). Clinical and preclinical studies have linked elevated aldosterone to hypertension, left ventricular and vascular remodeling, cardiac, renal, and cerebral vascular inflammation and injury, and increased risk of mortality in heart failure patients. Multiple studies in experimental models of hypertension and heart failure demonstrate that selective blockade of aldosterone by eplerenone effectively preserves cardiac function, attenuates maladaptive left ventricular remodeling and tissue and vascular injury in part by reducing vascular inflammation in aldosterone target organs.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacia Corporation, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd, T1G/T108W, St. Louis, MO 63167, USA. amy.e.rudolph@pfizer.com
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Ellen G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077545:Eplerenone; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D013148:Spironolactone; D000450:Aldosterone; D000077545:Eplerenone