New Sides of Aldosterone Action in Cardiovascular System as Potential Targets for Therapeutic Intervention

E-ISSN： 1873-5592|19|16|1968-1979

ISSN： 1389-4501

Source： Current Drug Targets, Vol.19, Iss.16, 2018-12, pp. : 1968-1979

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Abstract

Aldosterone, the main mineralocorticoid hormone, plays a crucial role in the regulation ofelectrolyte homeostasis and blood pressure. Although this role is undoubtedly important, it is not ahormonal action that attracts the most attention. Aldosterone seems to be very important as a localmessenger in the pathology of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the last few years, the attention wasfocused on the correlation between raised aldosterone level and increased risk of cardiovascularevents. It has been demonstrated that aldosterone contributes to fibrosis, inflammation, endothelialdysfunction, fibrinolytic disorders, and oxidative stress leading to CVD development and progression.It used to be thought that the effects of aldosterone are mediated via classic nuclear receptors – mineralocorticoidreceptors (MRs). Now we know that the mechanism of aldosterone action in thecardiovascular system (CVS) is much more complex since experimental and clinical studies indicatethat MR blockade may be not sufficient to abolish aldosterone-induced harmful effects in CVS. Thus,the involvement of some other than MR, receptors, and factors is suggested. Moreover, in addition tothe generally known genomic action of aldosterone, which involves MR activation, the nongenomicpathways are postulated in the mode of hormone action. More and more attention is focused on themembrane-coupled receptors, which mediate the rapid effects of aldosterone and have been alreadyconfirmed in different cells and tissues of CVS. Therefore, this brief review summarizes recent findingsabout new sides of aldosterone action in CVS that could be potential targets for therapeutic intervention.