title: Urea channel inhibitors: a new functional class of aquaretics.
abstract: Using large-scale small-molecule screening techniques, Li et al. have identified a compound that inhibits the UT-B urea channel. They propose that this or similar compounds could be used as aquaretic agents to increase water excretion without changes in electrolyte excretion. Such compounds would potentially be useful in treatment of hyponatremic disorders. Here we review the physiological basis for the action of urea channel inhibitors in the kidney and assess their clinical potential.
authors.affiliation: Epithelial Systems Biology Laboratory, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1603, USA. knep@helix.nih.gov
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Knepper
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*; D000096982:Urea Transporters
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011804:Quinolines; D014508:Urea; D000096982:Urea Transporters