Effect of combining ACE inhibition with aldosterone blockade on proteinuria and renal damage in experimental nephrosis

Kidney Int. 2007 Mar;71(5):417-24. doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5002075. Epub 2007 Jan 10.

Abstract

Aldosterone has pro-fibrotic properties and is a potential target for additional intervention in patients with chronic renal disease showing resistance to therapy during treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). Combining ACEi and aldosterone receptor blockade (aldoRB) in proteinuric renal disease reduces proteinuria, but effects on proteinuria-induced renal damage are unknown. We studied the effect of ACEi/aldoRB in adriamycin nephrosis (AN). Six weeks after injection of adriamycin in Wistar rats, randomized treatment with vehicle (VEH, n=8), aldoRB (n=12), ACEi (n=10), or a combination of ACEi/aldoRB (n=14) was given for 12 weeks. Healthy rats served as controls (n=6). Renal damage was quantified by markers of tubular injury (osteopontin (OPN) and kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1)), pre-fibrotic lesions (alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)), interstitial fibrosis (IF), and focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS). In AN animals, proteinuria was increased compared with controls. ACEi and ACEi/aldoRB significantly reduced proteinuria compared with VEH, whereas aldoRB monotherapy was without effect. Blood pressure was reduced in ACEi and ACEi/aldoRB compared with VEH and aldoRB. OPN and Kim-1 were increased in AN animals, but significantly reduced by ACEi/aldoRB. Treatment with ACEi and ACEi/aldoRB prevented an increase of SMA, IF, and FGS. In conclusion, ACEi/aldoRB effectively reduced proteinuria and markers of tubular injury and prevented renal damage in this rat model of chronic proteinuria-induced renal damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / analysis
  • Aldosterone / metabolism
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
  • Collagen Type IV / analysis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / prevention & control
  • Kidney / chemistry
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Nephrosis / drug therapy*
  • Nephrosis / etiology
  • Nephrosis / pathology
  • Osteopontin / analysis
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Proteinuria / complications
  • Proteinuria / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Actins
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Collagen Type IV
  • Havcr1protein, rat
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
  • smooth muscle actin, rat
  • Osteopontin
  • Aldosterone
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A