Cardiovascular effects of relaxin: from basic science to clinical therapy.
Although substantial advances have been achieved in recent decades in the clinical management of heart diseases, new therapies that provide better or additional efficacy with minimal adverse effects are urgently required. Evidence that has accumulated since the 1990s indicates that the peptide hormone relaxin has multiple beneficial actions in the cardiovascular system under pathological conditions and, therefore, holds promise as a novel therapeutic intervention. Clinical trials for heart failure therapy using relaxin revealed several beneficial actions. Here we review findings from mechanistic and applied research in this field, comment on the outcomes of recent phase I/II clinical trails on patients with heart failure, and highlight settings of cardiovascular diseases where relaxin might be effective.
Du
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Vic 3008, Australia. xiao-jun.du@bakeridi.edu.au
Bathgate
Ross A D
RA
Samuel
Chrishan S
CS
Dart
Anthony M
AM
Summers
Roger J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; C033395:relaxin receptors; D012065:Relaxin