Relaxin decreases renal interstitial fibrosis and slows progression of renal disease

Abstract

Relaxin may have a useful application in decreasing interstitial fibrosis and thereby slowing the progression of renal disease.

Relaxin receptors in hepatic stellate cells and cirrhotic liver

“…The earliest characterized functions for relaxin are in pregnancy, where it inhibits uterine contraction, induces softening of the birth canal, and induces lengthening of the interpubic ligament, largely by inducing extracellular matrix remodeling [1,2]. Several studies have suggested that relaxin may be effective in the treatment of conditions characterized by excess collagen deposition, including pulmonary, renal, and dermal fibrosis [3][4][5]. Furthermore, relaxinnull mice were found to develop age-related fibrosis in the…”

The role of relaxin in endometrial cancer

“…4 In addition, other functions in various physiological systems have been established. These include a role in endometrial differentiation, vasodilatory and chronotropic actions on the heart, 5,6 suppression of fibrosis 7 and promotion of wound healing. 8 It is now known that two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), LGR7 and LGR8, activate cyclic AMP (cAMP) when stimulated by RLN.…”

Suppression of glomerulosclerosis by adenovirus-mediated IL-10 expression in the kidney

“…11,12 The experimental animal models of nephritis can be induced by antiglomerular basement-membrane antibodies, high-protein diets, chemical reagents such as puromycin, unilateral ureteric obstruction, etc. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] However, all these models suffer from abrupt metabolic or mechanical alterations that do not necessarily occur naturally. In the FGS/Kist mouse strain, FSGS develops spontaneously, and eventually progresses into kidney failure with nephritis.…”