Multiple aspects of mineralocorticoid selectivity

Aldosterone regulates renal sodium reabsorption through binding to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Because the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is expressed together with the MR in aldosterone target cells, glucocorticoid hormones bound to GR may also intervene to modulate physiological functions in these cells. In addition, each steroid can bind both receptors, and the MR has equal affinity for aldosterone and glucocorticoid hormones. Several cellular and molecular mechanisms intervene to allow specific aldosterone regulatory effects, despite the large prevalence of glucocorticoid hormones in the plasma. They include the local metabolism of the glucocorticoid hormones into inactive derivatives by the enzyme 11 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; the intrinsic properties of the MR that discriminate between ligands through differential contacts; the possibility of forming homo- or heterodimers between MR and GR, leading to differential transactivation properties; and the interactions of MR and GR with other regulatory transcription factors. The relative contribution of each of these successive mechanisms may vary among aldosterone target cells (epithelial vs. nonepithelial) and according to the hormonal context. All these phenomena allow fine tuning of cellular functions depending on the degree of cooperation between corticosteroid hormones and other factors (hormonal or tissue specific). Such interactions may be altered in pathophysiological situations.