Vascular actions of aldosterone

J Vasc Res. 2013;50(2):89-99. doi: 10.1159/000345243. Epub 2012 Nov 21.

Abstract

Aldosterone exerts direct effects on the vascular system by inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertrophic remodeling, fibrosis, and endothelial dysfunction. Aldosterone exerts its effects through genomic and nongenomic pathways in a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-dependent or independent manner. Other aldosterone receptors such as GPR30 have been identified. A tight relation exists between the aldosterone and angiotensin II pathways, as well as with the endothelin-1 system. There is a correlation between plasma levels of aldosterone and cardiovascular risk. Recently, an increasing body of evidence has underlined the importance of aldosterone in cardiovascular complications associated with the metabolic syndrome, such as arterial remodeling and endothelial dysfunction. Blockade of MR is an increasingly used evidence-based therapy for many forms of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / physiology
  • Aldosterone / pharmacology
  • Aldosterone / physiology*
  • Angiotensin II / physiology
  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Blood Vessels / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1 / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology
  • Fibrosis
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Hypertrophy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Mineralocorticoids / physiology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiology
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Receptor, Endothelin A / physiology
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / drug effects
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / physiology
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / drug effects
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Vasculitis / drug therapy
  • Vasculitis / physiopathology
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects
  • Vasoconstriction / physiology

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
  • Mineralocorticoids
  • Receptor, Endothelin A
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
  • Angiotensin II
  • Aldosterone
  • Sodium