Nongenomic effects of aldosterone: cellular aspects and clinical implications

Nongenomic action of aldosterone has been observed in many cell types which often are different from the classic target tissues for mineralocorticoid action, such as vascular cells. As judged from their time scale and insensitivity toward inhibitors of protein synthesis, effects are not mediated by the classic mineralocorticoid receptor pathway. Here we summarize studies on rapid in vitro aldosterone effects, e.g. ion fluxes, and second messengers involved therein. Furthermore, several clinical studies on in vivo aldosterone action have shown rapid effects on cardiovascular parameters, among them baroreflex and vascular resistance. Taken together with the beneficial effect of aldosterone antagonism in heart failure patients that was demonstrated in the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES), aldosterone may be an equally important factor of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in cardiovascular pathogenesis.