Effect of combining ACE inhibition with aldosterone blockade on proteinuria and renal damage in experimental nephrosis

Aldosterone has pro-fibrotic properties and is a potential target for additional intervention in patients with chronic renal disease showing resistance to therapy during treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). Combining ACEi and aldosterone receptor blockade (aldoRB) in proteinuric renal disease reduces proteinuria, but effects on proteinuria-induced renal damage are unknown. We studied the effect of ACEi/aldoRB in adriamycin nephrosis (AN). Six weeks after injection of adriamycin in Wistar rats, randomized treatment with vehicle (VEH, n=8), aldoRB (n=12), ACEi (n=10), or a combination of ACEi/aldoRB (n=14) was given for 12 weeks. Healthy rats served as controls (n=6). Renal damage was quantified by markers of tubular injury (osteopontin (OPN) and kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1)), pre-fibrotic lesions (α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)), interstitial fibrosis (IF), and focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS). In AN animals, proteinuria was increased compared with controls. ACEi and ACEi/aldoRB significantly reduced proteinuria compared with VEH, whereas aldoRB monotherapy was without effect. Blood pressure was reduced in ACEi and ACEi/aldoRB compared with VEH and aldoRB. OPN and Kim-1 were increased in AN animals, but significantly reduced by ACEi/aldoRB. Treatment with ACEi and ACEi/aldoRB prevented an increase of SMA, IF, and FGS. In conclusion, ACEi/aldoRB effectively reduced proteinuria and markers of tubular injury and prevented renal damage in this rat model of chronic proteinuria-induced renal damage.