Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blocker Protects against Podocyte-Dependent Glomerulosclerosis

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker (ARB) attenuates glomerular injury in Nphs1-hCD25 (NEP25) transgenic mice, a model of selective podocyte injury. However, subsequent studies in NEP25 mice with podocyte-specific deficiency of AT1 revealed that the protective effects of ARB are not through the podocyte AT1, thereby raising the possibility that the protective effects of ARB involve mineralocorticoids. METHODS: NEP25 mice were treated with the mineralocorticoid receptor blocker (MRB) spironolactone (25 mg/kg/day, n = 10), the ARB losartan (250 mg/kg/day, n = 11), both (ARB+MRB, n = 8) or vehicle (Vehicle, n = 9) from day −7 to day 9 of induction of podocyte injury. RESULTS: Although MRB did not reduce systolic blood pressure or proteinuria, addition of MRB to ARB significantly attenuated glomerulosclerosis (glomerulosclerosis index: ARB+MRB 1.67 ± 0.19 vs. MRB 2.01 ± 0.29, ARB 2.35 ± 0.19, and Vehicle 2.25 ± 0.26, p < 0.05) and preserved the number of WT1-positive podocytes (ARB+MRB 152.5 ± 9.7 vs. MRB 117.2 ± 9.0 or ARB 113.6 ± 7.4, and ARB+MRB vs. Vehicle 97.5 ± 4.0 per glomerulus; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, while MRB does not attenuate proteinuria caused by podocyte-specific injury, it provides protective effects against glomerulosclerosis that is independent of systemic blood pressure.