Eplerenone is an orally active mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist that blocks the effects of aldosterone, with an IC50 value of 0.081μM[1, 2]. Eplerenone can be used in the study of hypertension, atherosclerosis, chronic systolic heart failure and cardiovascular diseases[3].
In vitro, Eplerenone (1µM) treatment of cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts for 24-48h promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and increased cGMP activity[4]. Eplerenone (2µM) treatment of primary cultures of venous endothelial cells (EAHy 926) and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) reversed aldosterone-induced endothelial cell growth and sclerosis in vitro[5].
In vivo, oral administration of Eplerenone (50mg/kg) to rats after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) surgery inhibited the development of renal fibrosis, inflammation (macrophage and monocyte infiltration), interstitial cell proliferation and interstitial cell activation (α-SMA expression), and reduced oxidative stress[6]. Subcutaneous administration of Eplerenone (30mg/kg) to rats after unilateral hindlimb ischemia surgery significantly increased the number, colony formation and migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) after hindlimb ischemia, and decreased the expression of NAD(P)H oxidase p22 phox, p47 phox, gp91 phox and the expression of serum and glucocorticoid-induced aldosterone responsive kinase 1 (Sgk1)[7].
References:
[1] Coleman C I, Song J C, White C M. Eplerenone[J]. Formulary, 2002, 37(10): 514.
[2] Dhillon S. Eplerenone: a review of its use in patients with chronic systolic heart failure and mild symptoms[J]. Drugs, 2013, 73: 1451-1462.
[3] Funder J W. Eplerenone: hypertension, heart failure and the importance of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade[J]. Future Cardiology, 2006, 2(5): 535-541.
[4] Hermidorff M M, Faria G O, Amâncio G C S, et al. Non-genomic effects of spironolactone and eplerenone in cardiomyocytes of neonatal Wistar rats: do they evoke cardioprotective pathways?[J]. Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 2015, 93(1): 83-93.
[5] Hillebrand U, Schillers H, Riethmüller C, et al. Dose-dependent endothelial cell growth and stiffening by aldosterone: endothelial protection by eplerenone[J]. Journal of hypertension, 2007, 25(3): 639-647.
[6] Chen H, Sun F, Zhong X, et al. Eplerenone-mediated aldosterone blockade prevents renal fibrosis by reducing renal inflammation, interstitial cell proliferation and oxidative stress[J]. Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, 2013, 37(6): 557-566.
[7] Kobayashi N, Fukushima H, Takeshima H, et al. Effect of eplerenone on endothelial progenitor cells and oxidative stress in ischemic hindlimb[J]. American journal of hypertension, 2010, 23(9): 1007-1013.