The G protein-coupled receptors LGR7 and LGR8 have recently been identified as the primary receptors for the polypeptide hormone relaxin and relaxin-like factors. RT-PCR confirmed the existence of mRNA for both LGR7 and LRG8 in THP-1 cells. Whole cell treatment of THP-1 cells with relaxin produced a biphasic time course in cAMP accumulation, where the first peak appeared as early as 1-2 min wit...

Relaxin-3, the most recently identified member of the relaxin peptide family, is produced by GABAergic projection neurons in the nucleus incertus (NI), in the pontine periventricular gray. Previous studies suggest relaxin-3 is a modulator of stress responses, metabolism, arousal and behavioural activation. Knockout mice and peptide infusions in vivo have significantly contributed to understandi...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to determine the role of relaxin knowdown by siRNA transfection in cellular growth and invasion of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, and discusses the molecular mechanisms of this action. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of relaxin in MG-63 cell was examined by western blot or RT-PCR. To evaluate the biological role of relaxin, proliferation assay (MTT) and in...

Relaxin and estrogen reduced the resistance to dilatation of the mouse cervical canal. Relaxin was stored in, and secreted from , the ovaries of pregnant mice. The corpus luteum of gravid women just at delivery contained 25-50 GPU/g of relaxin, while the placenta, amniotic fluid and serum had no relaxin activity. Luteinizing hormone, luteotropic hormone and oxytocin effected elongation of the i...

The human has two relaxins, termed H1 and H2, both of which are biologically active and co-expressed in the decidua, placenta and prostate; in the corpus luteum, the main source of circulating relaxin, only the H2 form is expressed. The reasons for this differential expression of the relaxin genes are unknown. The possibility that their 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) contribute to this differen...

BACKGROUND Although relaxin causes vasodilatation in systemic arteries, little is known about its role in cerebral arteries. We investigated the expression and role of relaxin in basilar arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rabbits. METHODS Microarray analysis with rabbit basilar artery RNA was performed. Messenger RNA expression of relaxin-1 and relaxin/insulin-like family peptide...

Relaxin is a polypeptide hormone that triggers multiple signaling pathways through its receptor RXFP1 (relaxin family peptide receptor 1). Many of relaxin's functions, including vascular and antifibrotic effects, are similar to those induced by activation of PPARgamma. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that relaxin signaling through RXFP1 would activate PPARgamma activity. In cells overex...

Relaxin, a polypeptide hormone belonging to the insulin family, has recently attracted interest as a possible cardiovascular regulator. Though long known to prepare the birth canal for parturition, relaxin has only lately been shown to have renal and haemodynamic actions. Relaxin may also be secreted by the heart, at least when it is failing. Plasma relaxin concentrations are raised in chronic ...

Relaxin is a peptide related to pregnancy that induces nitric oxide-related and gelatinase-related effects, allowing vasodilation and pregnancy-related adjustments permitting parturition to occur. Relaxin controls the hemodynamic and renovascular adaptive changes that occur during pregnancy. Interest has evolved regarding relaxin and a therapeutic principle in preeclampsia and heart failure. Pr...

The hormone relaxin is important in female reproduction for embryo implantation, cardiovascular function, and during labor and lactation. Relaxin is also synthesized in males by organs of the male tract. We hypothesized that relaxin might be one component of seminal plasma responsible for eliciting the female cytokine response induced in the uterus at mating. When recombinant relaxin was inject...