Hyperactive ENaC identifies hypertensive individuals amenable to amiloride therapy

• Published in: American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 2001-11, Vol.281 (5), p.C1413-C1421
• Main Authors: Carter, Artensie R, Zhou, Zhen Hong, Calhoun, David A, Bubien, James K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - complications; Adult; Amiloride - therapeutic use; Blood Cell Count; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Blood Pressure - physiology; Diuretics - therapeutic use; Electrophysiology; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; False Positive Reactions; Female; Humans; Hyperaldosteronism - drug therapy; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - metabolism; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Sodium Channels - drug effects; Sodium Channels - metabolism
• ISSN: 0363-6143; 1522-1563
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.2001.281.5.C1413

1  Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, and 2  Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294 Pathophysiological features of both primary aldosteronism and pseudohyperaldosteronism are hyperactive amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na + channels (ENaC) and refractory hypertension. Peripheral blood lymphocytes express ENaC, which functions and is regulated similarly to ENaC expressed by renal principal cells. Thus it was hypothesized that individuals with either of these hypertensive etiologies could be identified by assessment of the function and regulation of peripheral blood lymphocyte ENaC, by whole cell patch clamp. We also tested the hypothesis that specific inhibition of hyperactive ENaC with amiloride could ameliorate the hypertension. To test these hypotheses, we solicited blood samples from normotensive, controlled hypertensive, and refractory hypertensive individuals. Lymphocytes were examined electrophysiologically to determine whether ENaC was hyperactive. All positive findings were from refractory hypertensive individuals. Nine refractory hypertensive patients had amiloride added to their hypertensive therapy. Amiloride normalized the blood pressure of four subjects. These individuals all had hyperactive ENaC. Amiloride had no effect on individuals with normal ENaC. These findings suggest that whole-cell patch clamp of peripheral blood lymphocytes can be used to identify accurately and rapidly hypertensive individuals who will respond to amiloride therapy. sodium channel; lymphocytes; aldosterone