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Review
. 2021 Jul 22;11(8):727.
doi: 10.3390/life11080727.

Endogenous Mammalian Cardiotonic Steroids-A New Cardiovascular Risk Factor?-A Mini-Review

Natalia Słabiak-Błaż  1 , Grzegorz Piecha  1
Affiliations
Review

Endogenous Mammalian Cardiotonic Steroids-A New Cardiovascular Risk Factor?-A Mini-Review

Natalia Słabiak-Błaż et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

The role of endogenous mammalian cardiotonic steroids (CTS) in the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system and the kidneys has interested researchers for more than 20 years. Cardiotonic steroids extracted from toads or plants, such as digitalis, have been used to treat heart disease since ancient times. CTS, also called endogenous digitalis-like factors, take part in the regulation of blood pressure and sodium homeostasis through their effects on the transport enzyme called sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na/K-ATPase) in renal and cardiovascular tissue. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence showing deleterious effects of CTS on the structure and function of the heart, vasculature and kidneys. Understanding the role of CTS may be useful in the development of potential new therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Na/K-ATPase; heart failure; hypertension; marinobufagenin; ouabain.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structure of marinobufagenin, ouabain, and digoxin.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proposed mechanisms linking CTS, hypertension and end-organ damage.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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