Questioning the renoprotective role of L-type calcium channel blockers in chronic kidney disease using physiological modeling

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2021 Oct 1;321(4):F548-F557. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00233.2021. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by the progressive functional loss of nephrons and hypertension (HTN). Some antihypertensive regimens attenuate the progression of CKD (blockers of the renin-angiotensin system). Although studies have suggested that calcium channel blocker (CCB) therapy mitigates the decline in renal function in humans with essential HTN, there are few long-term clinical studies that have determined the impact of CCBs in patients with hypertensive CKD. Dihydropyridine (DHP) or L-type CCBs preferentially vasodilate the afferent arteriole and have been associated with glomerular HTN and increases in proteinuria in animal models with low renal function. Small clinical studies in vulnerable populations with renal disease such as African Americans, children, and diabetics have also suggested that DHP CCBs exacerbate glomerular injury, which questions the renoprotective effect of this class of antihypertensive drug. We used an established integrative mathematical model of human physiology, HumMod, to test the hypothesis that DHP CCB therapy exacerbates pressure-induced glomerular injury in hypertensive CKD. Over a simulation of 3 yr, CCB therapy reduced mean blood pressure by 14-16 mmHg in HTN both with and without CKD. Both impaired tubuloglomerular feedback and low baseline renal function exacerbated glomerular pressure, glomerulosclerosis, and the decline in renal function during L-type CCB treatment. However, simulating CCB therapy that inhibited both L- and T-type calcium channels increased efferent arteriolar vasodilation and alleviated glomerular damage. These simulations support the evidence that DHP (L-type) CCBs potentiate glomerular HTN during CKD and suggest that T/L-type CCBs are valuable in proteinuric renal disease treatment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our physiological model replicates clinical trial results and provides unique insights into possible mechanisms that play a role in glomerular injury and hypertensive kidney disease progression during chronic CCB therapy. Specifically, these simulations predict the temporal changes in renal function with CCB treatment and demonstrate important roles for tubuloglomerular feedback and efferent arteriolar conductance in the control of chronic kidney disease progression.

Keywords: antihypertensive therapy; chronic kidney disease; hyperfiltration; hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / adverse effects
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / drug effects*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / drug effects*
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / metabolism
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / diagnosis
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Kidney Glomerulus / blood supply*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / metabolism
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type
  • Vasodilator Agents

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.15204765