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Relaxin-2 plasma levels in atrial fibrillation are linked to inflammation and oxidative stress markers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22287. [PMID: 36566255 PMCID: PMC9789945 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26836-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin-2 exerts many favourable cardiovascular effects in pathological circumstances such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure, but the mechanisms underlying its actions are not completely understood. Since inflammation and fibrosis are pivotal processes in the pathogenesis of AF, our aim was to study the relationship between relaxin-2 plasma levels in left atrium (LA) and peripheral vein with molecules implicated in fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in AF patients, and to evaluate the anti-fibrotic ability of relaxin-2 in normal human atrial cardiac fibroblasts (NHCF-A). Peripheral vein relaxin-2 plasma levels were higher than LA relaxin-2 plasma levels in men while, in women, peripheral vein relaxin-2 levels were increased compared to men. AF patients with higher levels of relaxin-2 exhibited a reduction in H2O2 plasma levels and in mRNA levels of alpha-defensin 3 (DEFA3) and IL-6 in leucocytes from LA plasma. Relaxin-2-in-vitro treatment inhibited NHCF-A migration and decreased mRNA and protein levels of the pro-fibrotic molecule transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Our results support an association between relaxin-2 and molecules involved in fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in AF patients, and reinforce an anti-fibrotic protective role of this hormone in NHCF-A; strengthening the relevance of relaxin-2 in AF physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment.
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Relaxin-2 as a Potential Biomarker in Cardiovascular Diseases. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12071021. [PMID: 35887517 PMCID: PMC9317583 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12071021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The pleiotropic hormone relaxin-2 plays a pivotal role in the physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system. Relaxin-2 exerts relevant regulatory functions in cardiovascular tissues through the specific receptor relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) in the regulation of cardiac metabolism; the induction of vasodilatation; the reversion of fibrosis and hypertrophy; the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis; and the stimulation of angiogenesis, with inotropic and chronotropic effects as well. Recent preclinical and clinical outcomes have encouraged the potential use of relaxin-2 (or its recombinant form, known as serelaxin) as a therapeutic strategy during cardiac injury and/or in patients suffering from different cardiovascular disarrangements, especially heart failure. Furthermore, relaxin-2 has been proposed as a promising biomarker of cardiovascular health and disease. In this review, we emphasize the relevance of the endogenous hormone relaxin-2 as a useful diagnostic biomarker in different backgrounds of cardiovascular pathology, such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, aortic valve disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, which could be relevant in daily clinical practice and could contribute to comprehending the specific role of relaxin-2 in cardiovascular diseases.
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Devarakonda T, Valle Raleigh J, Mauro AG, Lambert JM, Cowart LA, Salloum FN. Chronic treatment with serelaxin mitigates adverse remodeling in a murine model of ischemic heart failure and modulates bioactive sphingolipid signaling. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8897. [PMID: 35614179 PMCID: PMC9132995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12930-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin is a pleiotropic hormone demonstrated to confer cardioprotection in animal models of myocardial infarction and ischemic heart failure by modulating inflammation, fibrosis and arrhythmogenesis. Several of these pathways in the ischemic myocardium are intricately tied with the downstream signaling of bioactive sphingolipids, which play an active role during post-infarction remodeling. In this current study, we examined the effects of relaxin on sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and the potential benefits of relaxin treatment on cardiac health in a rodent model of ischemic heart failure. Acute (30 min) and sub-acute (24 h) treatment of primary cardiomyocytes with serelaxin (recombinant human relaxin-2) increased the cardiomyocyte content of S1P. In the rodent model, treatment with relaxin for 28 days following myocardial ischemia by way of permanent left coronary artery occlusion improved survival and cardiac function, reduced fibrosis and apoptosis, and mitigated the expression of several pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers. The expression of beclin-1 (autophagy marker) was also reduced. The expression of S1P was significantly higher in cardiac tissue and plasma samples extracted from serelaxin-treated mice at day 28. In conclusion, our studies show a significant protection from relaxin in ischemic heart disease, and demonstrate the association between relaxin signaling and S1P generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teja Devarakonda
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 East Marshall Street, Room 7-070, Box 980204, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Juan Valle Raleigh
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 East Marshall Street, Room 7-070, Box 980204, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Adolfo G Mauro
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 East Marshall Street, Room 7-070, Box 980204, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Johana M Lambert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lauren Ashley Cowart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Fadi N Salloum
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 East Marshall Street, Room 7-070, Box 980204, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Li P, Zhao G, Chen F, Ding Y, Wang T, Liu S, Lu W, Xu W, Flores J, Ocak U, Zhang T, Zhang JH, Tang J. Rh-relaxin-2 attenuates degranulation of mast cells by inhibiting NF-κB through PI3K-AKT/TNFAIP3 pathway in an experimental germinal matrix hemorrhage rat model. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:250. [PMID: 32859236 PMCID: PMC7455905 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01926-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mast cells play an important role in early immune reactions in the brain by degranulation and the consequent inflammatory response. Our aim of the study is to investigate the effects of rh-relaxin-2 on mast cells and the underlying mechanisms in a germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) rat model. METHODS One hundred seventy-three P7 rat pups were subjected to GMH by an intraparenchymal injection of bacterial collagenase. Clodronate liposome was administered through intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections 24 h prior to GMH to inhibit microglia. Rh-relaxin-2 was administered intraperitoneally at 1 h and 13 h after GMH. Small interfering RNA of RXFP1 and PI3K inhibitor LY294002 were given by i.c.v. injection. Post-GMH evaluation included neurobehavioral function, Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, Nissl staining, and toluidine blue staining. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that endogenous relaxin-2 was downregulated and that RXFP1 level peaked on the first day after GMH. Administration of rh-relaxin-2 improved neurological functions, attenuated degranulation of mast cells and neuroinflammation, and ameliorated post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) after GMH. These effects were associated with RXFP1 activation, increased expression of PI3K, phosphorylated AKT and TNFAIP3, and decreased levels of phosphorylated NF-κB, tryptase, chymase, IL-6, and TNF-α. However, knockdown of RXFP1 and PI3K inhibition abolished the protective effects of rh-relaxin-2. CONCLUSIONS Our findings showed that rh-relaxin-2 attenuated degranulation of mast cells and neuroinflammation, improved neurological outcomes, and ameliorated hydrocephalus after GMH through RXFP1/PI3K-AKT/TNFAIP3/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
- Department of Emergency Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
- Traumatic Research Center of Yunnan Province, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - Fanfan Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Tianyi Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Shengpeng Liu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Weitian Lu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Weilin Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Jerry Flores
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Umut Ocak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Tongyu Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - John H Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Neurosurgery and Neurology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA
| | - Jiping Tang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Science, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Risley Hall, 11041 Campus St, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA.
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Serelaxin activates eNOS, suppresses inflammation, attenuates developmental delay and improves cognitive functions of neonatal rats after germinal matrix hemorrhage. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8115. [PMID: 32415164 PMCID: PMC7229117 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65144-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is a detrimental form of neonatal CNS injury. Following GMH-mediated eNOS inhibition, inflammation arises, contributing to GMH-induced brain injury. We investigated the beneficial effects of Serelaxin, a clinical tested recombinant Relaxin-2 protein, on brain injury after GMH in rats. We investigated whether effects of Serelaxin are mediated by its ability to activate the GMH-suppressed eNOS pathway resulting in attenuation of inflammatory marker overproduction. GMH was induced by intraparenchymal injection of bacterial collagenase (0.3U). Seven day old Sprague–Dawley rat pups (P7) were used (n = 63). GMH animals were divided in vehicle or serelaxin treated (3 µg once, 30 µg once, 30 µg multiple, i.p., starting 30 after GMH and then daily). Sham operated animals were used. We monitored the developmental profile working memory and spatial function (T-maze and open field test respectively). At day 28, all rats underwent MRI-scans for assessment of changes in cortical thickness and white matter loss. Effects of Serelaxin on eNOS pathway activation and post-GMH inflammation were evaluated. We demonstrated that Serelaxin dose-dependently attenuated GMH-induced developmental delay, protected brain and improved cognitive functions of rats after GMH. That was associated with the decreased post-GMH inflammation, mediated at least partly by amelioration of GMH-induced eNOS inhibition.
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