Aldosterone regulates water and electrolyte homeostasis by activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, in the kidney. Clinical trials have shown a striking benefit of MR antagonists in chronic heart failure and post-myocardial infarction treatment.
Experimental studies using cell type-specific gene targeting of the MR gene in mice now provide evidence that this effect is directly mediated via MR in the cardiovascular system. Several molecular signaling pathways are involved in the diverse effects of aldosterone in different cell types.
This has lead to the development of novel MR antagonists that are currently tested in clinical trials.
Lother, A, Moser, M, Bode, C, Feldman, RD, Hein, L (2015) Mineralocorticoids in the heart and vasculature: new insights for old hormones. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 55 :289-312. PMID:25251996