The CYP11B2 inhibitor FAD286 reduced 7-week mortality to 10% compared with 40% in untreated controls, and ameliorated cardiac and renal damage in transgenic rats.
Does aldosterone reduction via CYP11B2 inhibition or adrenalectomy ameliorate organ damage in transgenic rats overexpressing renin and angiotensinogen?
Aldosterone produced in the adrenals plays a key role in Ang II-induced organ damage, and its reduction via aldosterone synthase inhibition or adrenalectomy ameliorates cardiac and renal damage in a transgenic rat model.
Absolute Event Rate: 10% vs 40%
BACKGROUND: Aldosterone and angiotensin (Ang) II both may cause organ damage. Circulating aldosterone is produced in the adrenals; however, local cardiac synthesis has been reported. Aldosterone concentrations depend on the activity of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2). We tested the hypothesis that reducing aldosterone by inhibiting CYP11B2 or by adrenalectomy (ADX) may ameliorate organ damage. Furthermore, we investigated how much local cardiac aldosterone originates from the adrenal gland. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the effect of the CYP11B2 inhibitor FAD286, losartan, and the consequences of ADX in transgenic rats overexpressing both the human renin and angiotensinogen genes (dTGR). dTGR-ADX received dexamethasone and 1% salt. Dexamethasone-treated dTGR-salt served as a control group in the ADX protocol. Untreated dTGR developed hypertension and cardiac and renal damage and had a 40% mortality rate (5/13) at 7 weeks. FAD286 reduced mortality to 10% (1/10) and ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy, albuminuria, cell infiltration, and matrix deposition in the heart and kidney. FAD286 had no effect on blood pressure at weeks 5 and 6 but slightly reduced blood pressure at week 7 (177+/-6 mm Hg in dTGR+FAD286 and 200+/-5 mm Hg in dTGR). Losartan normalized blood pressure during the entire study. Circulating and cardiac aldosterone levels were reduced in FAD286 or losartan-treated dTGR. ADX combined with dexamethasone and salt treatment decreased circulating and cardiac aldosterone to barely detectable levels. At week 7, ADX-dTGR-dexamethasone-salt had a 22% mortality rate compared with 73% in dTGR-dexamethasone-salt. Both groups were similarly hypertensive (190+/-9 and 187+/-4 mm Hg). In contrast, cardiac hypertrophy index, albuminuria, cell infiltration, and matrix deposition were significantly reduced after ADX (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aldosterone plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Ang II-induced organ damage. Both FAD286 and ADX reduced circulating and cardiac aldosterone levels. The present results show that aldosterone produced in the adrenals is the main source of cardiac aldosterone.
Fiebeler et al. (2005) studied Angiotensin II-induced organ damage. CYP11B2 inhibitor FAD286 or adrenalectomy vs. Untreated controls was evaluated on Mortality rate at 7 weeks. The CYP11B2 inhibitor FAD286 reduced 7-week mortality to 10% compared with 40% in untreated controls, and ameliorated cardiac and renal damage in transgenic rats.