Abstract

Background and Aims

Inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT)-2, and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) have all demonstrated renoprotective effects in large clinical trials of diabetes-related CKD. Furthermore, dual RAS/SGLT2 blockade showed additive renoprotective effects also in non-diabetic CKD. We hypothesized that triple RAS/SGLT2/MR blockade would be even superior to dual RAS/SGLT2 blockade in non-diabetic CKD.

Method

We performed a “no touch” preclinical randomized controlled trial in Col4a3-deficient mice with spontaneous and progressive CKD (registry ID: PCTE0000266). Treatments were administered as food admix from 6-14 weeks of age at the following estimated doses: 10 mg/kg ramipril, 30 mg/kg empagliflozin, 10 mg/kg finerenone. The prespecified primary endpoint was total lifespan up to uremic death. Ancillary studies addressed baseline histology, and mechanistic studies on a subset of mice after 2.5 weeks of treatment.

Results

At the time of randomization, Col4a3-/- mice had albuminuria, elevated serum creatinine, glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. Total lifespan was 63.7 ± 9.99 days (vehicle), 77.25 ± 5.34 days (ramipril), 80.3 ± 10.98 days (ramipril+empagliflozin), and 103.05 ± 20.28 days (triple therapy), respectively. Artificial intelligence-based histopathology and RNA sequencing analysis documented a potent anti-sclerotic, -inflammation and -fibrotic effect of the triple combination.

Conclusion

Adding finereone to dual RAS/SGLT2 blockade significantly prolongs uremia-free lifespan even when started at an advanced stage of Alport nephropathy. Triple RAS/SGLT2/MR blockade could be a potent treatment strategy to prolong uremia-free lifespan in patients with CKD related to Alport syndrome and possibly other progressive kidney disorders.

Finereone added to a dual RAS/SGLT2 inhibition substantially prolongs lifespan of Col4a3-/- mice with progressive CKD due to Alport nephropathy. (A) Kaplan-Meier graph of survival. (B) Effects of RASi, RASi/SGLT2i, and RASi/SGLT2i/MRA treatments on kidney function (GFR) in Col4a3 -/- mice. All quantitative data are means ± SD.
Figure 1:

Finereone added to a dual RAS/SGLT2 inhibition substantially prolongs lifespan of Col4a3-/- mice with progressive CKD due to Alport nephropathy. (A) Kaplan-Meier graph of survival. (B) Effects of RASi, RASi/SGLT2i, and RASi/SGLT2i/MRA treatments on kidney function (GFR) in Col4a3 -/- mice. All quantitative data are means ± SD.

Table 1:

Evolution of GFR in Col4a3 -/- mice.

GFR (µl/min)
Group (n = 20)6 weeks7 weeks10 weeks
CKD-veh180.64 ± 32.11146.95 ± 62.770.00 ± 0.00
CKD-RASi187.61 ± 33.01191.47 ± 44.3654.46 ± 28.42
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i187.25 ± 38.49178.55 ± 30.4855.43 ± 52.72
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i/MRA185.27 ± 35.70176.75 ± 39.21125.40 ± 54.70
p0.9360.022<0.001
GFR (µl/min)
Group (n = 20)6 weeks7 weeks10 weeks
CKD-veh180.64 ± 32.11146.95 ± 62.770.00 ± 0.00
CKD-RASi187.61 ± 33.01191.47 ± 44.3654.46 ± 28.42
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i187.25 ± 38.49178.55 ± 30.4855.43 ± 52.72
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i/MRA185.27 ± 35.70176.75 ± 39.21125.40 ± 54.70
p0.9360.022<0.001

GFR, glomerular filtration rate; CKD, Chronic kidney disease.

Table 1:

Evolution of GFR in Col4a3 -/- mice.

GFR (µl/min)
Group (n = 20)6 weeks7 weeks10 weeks
CKD-veh180.64 ± 32.11146.95 ± 62.770.00 ± 0.00
CKD-RASi187.61 ± 33.01191.47 ± 44.3654.46 ± 28.42
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i187.25 ± 38.49178.55 ± 30.4855.43 ± 52.72
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i/MRA185.27 ± 35.70176.75 ± 39.21125.40 ± 54.70
p0.9360.022<0.001
GFR (µl/min)
Group (n = 20)6 weeks7 weeks10 weeks
CKD-veh180.64 ± 32.11146.95 ± 62.770.00 ± 0.00
CKD-RASi187.61 ± 33.01191.47 ± 44.3654.46 ± 28.42
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i187.25 ± 38.49178.55 ± 30.4855.43 ± 52.72
CKD-RASi/SGLT2i/MRA185.27 ± 35.70176.75 ± 39.21125.40 ± 54.70
p0.9360.022<0.001

GFR, glomerular filtration rate; CKD, Chronic kidney disease.

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