Figure 1.

Aldo and MR in vascular inflammation. (1) Aldo induces systemic inflammation in the setting of cardiovascular risk factors. (2) In response to endothelial damage, Aldo acts on EC–MR to induce cytokine and adhesion molecule expression. (3) Cytokines produced by the endothelium and underlying SMCs induce EC adhesion molecule expression and leukocyte recruitment, adhesion, and transmigration. (4) Aldo also acts on EC–MR to induce rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, possibly facilitating leukocyte transmigration. (5) Myeloid MR induces ROS production and macrophage activation and polarization to the M1 phenotype. (6) MR induces T cell expression of homing markers and differentiation to the Th17 subset. (7) Aldo activation of neutrophil MR induces MMP-9 production, which may promote atherosclerotic plaque rupture.