Mineralocorticoid Receptor in Cardiovascular Diseases-Clinical Trials and Mechanistic Insights

Aldosterone binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor (NR3C2), a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor family, present in the kidney and in various other non-epithelial cells including the heart and the vasculature. Indeed, extra-renal pathophysiological effects of this hormone have been characterized, extending its actions to the cardiovascular system. A growing body of clinical and pre-clinical evidence suggests that mineralocorticoid receptor overactivation plays an important pathophysiological role in cardiovascular remodelling by promoting cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, arterial stiffness and in inflammation and oxidative stress. The following review article outlines the role of mineralocorticoid receptor in cardiovascular disease with a focus on myocardial remodelling and heart failure (HF) including clinical trials as well as cellular and animal studies. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Emerging Fields for Therapeutic Targeting of the Aldosterone-Mineralocorticoid Receptor Signaling Pathway. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.13/issuetoc.