title: Pathophysiological roles of aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptor in the kidney.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kagawa University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rafiq
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hitomi
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000077545:Eplerenone; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000502:physiology*; D012079:Renal Circulation; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D013148:Spironolactone; D000450:Aldosterone; D000077545:Eplerenone