The Antifibrotic Role of Relaxin

Relaxin, a polypeptide hormone of the insulin superfamily, is involved in the promotion of extracellular matrix remodeling. Emerging evidence supports a potential therapeutic role of relaxin in fibrotic diseases including liver. Relaxin has been shown to limit collagen production and promote collagen degradation. It not only prevents fibrogenesis, but also reduces established scarring. Together, these findings suggest that the liver is a target organ of relaxin. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of relaxin, its receptor, and their signaling with a focus on areas of potential translational research on fibrosis with emphasis on liver. *Corresponding author: Dr. Geeta Tripathi, Command Hospital, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India E-mail: [email protected] Review Article