1
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Wingert J, Meinhardt E, Sasipong N, Pott M, Lederer C, de la Torre C, Sticht C, Most P, Katus HA, Frey N, Raake PWJ, Schlegel P. Cardiomyocyte-specific RXFP1 overexpression protects against pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction independently of relaxin. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116305. [PMID: 38768763 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) prevalence is rising due to reduced early mortality and demographic change. Relaxin (RLN) mediates protective effects in the cardiovascular system through Relaxin-receptor 1 (RXFP1). Cardiac overexpression of RXFP1 with additional RLN supplementation attenuated HF in the pressure-overload transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model. Here, we hypothesized that robust transgenic RXFP1 overexpression in cardiomyocytes (CM) protects from TAC-induced HF even in the absence of RLN. Hence, transgenic mice with a CM-specific overexpression of human RXFP1 (hRXFP1tg) were generated. Receptor functionality was demonstrated by in vivo hemodynamics, where the administration of RLN induced positive inotropy strictly in hRXFP1tg. An increase in phospholamban-phosphorylation at serine 16 was identified as a molecular correlate. hRXFP1tg were protected from TAC without additional RLN administration, presenting not only less decline in systolic left ventricular (LV) function but also abrogated LV dilation and pulmonary congestion compared to WT mice. Molecularly, transgenic hearts exhibited not only a significantly attenuated fetal and fibrotic gene activation but also demonstrated less fibrotic tissue and CM hypertrophy in histological sections. These protective effects were evident in both sexes. Similar cardioprotective effects of hRXFP1tg were detectable in a RLN-knockout model, suggesting an alternative mechanism of receptor activation through intrinsic activity, alternative endogenous ligands or crosstalk with other receptors. In summary, CM-specific RXFP1 overexpression provides protection against TAC even in the absence of endogenous RLN. This suggests RXFP1 overexpression as a potential therapeutic approach for HF, offering baseline protection with optional RLN supplementation for specific activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wingert
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany
| | - E Meinhardt
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - N Sasipong
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - M Pott
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - C Lederer
- Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, University Hospital Heidelberg and German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C de la Torre
- Core Facility Platform Mannheim, NGS Core Facility, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - C Sticht
- Core Facility Platform Mannheim, NGS Core Facility, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - P Most
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany
| | - H A Katus
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany
| | - N Frey
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany
| | - P W J Raake
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg University, Germany
| | - P Schlegel
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
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2
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Chen D, Rehfeld JF, Watts AG, Rorsman P, Gundlach AL. History of key regulatory peptide systems and perspectives for future research. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13251. [PMID: 37053148 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the 20th Century, regulatory peptide discovery advanced from the identification of gut hormones to the extraction and characterization of hypothalamic hypophysiotropic factors, and to the isolation and cloning of multiple brain neuropeptides. These discoveries were followed by the discovery of G-protein-coupled and other membrane receptors for these peptides. Subsequently, the systems physiology associated with some of these multiple regulatory peptides and receptors has been comprehensively elucidated and has led to improved therapeutics and diagnostics and their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. In light of this wealth of information and further potential, it is truly a time of renaissance for regulatory peptides. In this perspective, we review what we have learned from the pioneers in exemplified fields of gut peptides, such as cholecystokinin, enterochromaffin-like-cell peptides, and glucagon, from the trailblazing studies on the key stress hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, as well as from more recently characterized relaxin-family peptides and receptors. The historical viewpoints are based on our understanding of these topics in light of the earliest phases of research and on subsequent studies and the evolution of knowledge, aiming to sharpen our vision of the current state-of-the-art and those studies that should be prioritized in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duan Chen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jens F Rehfeld
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alan G Watts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Patrik Rorsman
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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3
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Hossain MA, Praveen P, Noorzi NA, Wu H, Harrison IP, Handley T, Selemidis S, Samuel CS, Bathgate RAD. Development of Novel High-Affinity Antagonists for the Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:842-853. [PMID: 37200817 PMCID: PMC10186362 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
H2 relaxin is a peptide hormone that exerts its biological actions through the G protein-coupled receptor, RXFP1. The numerous important biological functions of H2 relaxin, including potent renal, vasodilatory, cardioprotective, and anti-fibrotic actions, have resulted in considerable interest in its use as a therapeutic for various cardiovascular diseases and other fibrotic indications. Interestingly though, H2 relaxin and RXFP1 have been shown to be overexpressed in prostate cancer, allowing for the downregulation or blocking of relaxin/RXFP1 to decrease prostate tumor growth. These findings suggest the application of an RXFP1 antagonist for the treatment of prostate cancer. However, these therapeutically relevant actions are still poorly understood and have been hindered by the lack of a high-affinity antagonist. In this study, we chemically synthesized three novel H2 relaxin analogues that have complex insulin-like structures with two chains (A and B) and three disulfide bridges. We report here the structure-activity relationship studies on H2 relaxin that resulted in the development of a novel high-affinity RXFP1 antagonist, H2 B-R13HR (∼40 nM), that has only one extra methylene group in the side chain of arginine 13 in the B-chain (ArgB13) of H2 relaxin. Most notably, the synthetic peptide was shown to be active in a mouse model of prostate tumor growth in vivo where it inhibited relaxin-mediated tumor growth. Our compound H2 B-R13HR will be an important research tool to understand relaxin actions through RXFP1 and may be a potential lead compound for the treatment of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Florey
Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
- School
of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University
of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Praveen Praveen
- Florey
Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nurhayati Ahmad Noorzi
- Cardiovascular
Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hongkang Wu
- Florey
Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University
of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ian P. Harrison
- Cardiovascular
Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thomas Handley
- Florey
Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stavros Selemidis
- School
of
Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chrishan S. Samuel
- Cardiovascular
Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Florey
Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University
of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
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4
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Kubra KT, Hasan MM, Hasan MN, Salman MS, Khaleque MA, Sheikh MC, Rehan AI, Rasee AI, Waliullah R, Awual ME, Hossain MS, Alsukaibi AK, Alshammari HM, Awual MR. The heavy lanthanide of Thulium(III) separation and recovery using specific ligand-based facial composite adsorbent. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2023.131415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
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5
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Hasan MN, Salman MS, Hasan MM, Kubra KT, Sheikh MC, Rehan AI, Rasee AI, Awual ME, Waliullah R, Hossain MS, Islam A, Khandaker S, Alsukaibi AK, Alshammari HM, Awual MR. Assessing sustainable Lutetium(III) ions adsorption and recovery using novel composite hybrid nanomaterials. J Mol Struct 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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6
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Improving copper(II) ion detection and adsorption from wastewater by the ligand-functionalized composite adsorbent. J Mol Struct 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2023.135259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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7
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Hasan M, Tul Kubra K, Hasan N, Awual E, Salman S, Sheikh C, Islam Rehan A, Islam Rasee A, Waliullah R, Islam S, Khandaker S, Islam A, Sohrab Hossain M, Alsukaibi AK, Alshammari HM, Awual R. Sustainable ligand-modified based composite material for the selective and effective cadmium(II) capturing from wastewater. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.121125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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8
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Simultaneous toxic Cd(II) and Pb(II) encapsulation from contaminated water using Mg/Al-LDH composite materials. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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9
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Regulatory T cells in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration: recent insights. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:680. [PMID: 35931697 PMCID: PMC9356005 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05142-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle repair and regeneration after injury is a multi-stage process, involving a dynamic inflammatory microenvironment consisting of a complex network formed by the interaction of immune cells and their secreted cytokines. The homeostasis of the inflammatory microenvironment determines whether skeletal muscle repair tissues will ultimately form scar tissue or regenerative tissue. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) regulate homeostasis within the immune system and self-immune tolerance, and play a crucial role in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration. Dysregulated Tregs function leads to abnormal repair. In this review, we discuss the role and mechanisms of Tregs in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration after injury and provide new strategies for Treg immunotherapy in skeletal muscle diseases.
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10
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Tapia Cáceres F, Gaspari TA, Hossain MA, Samuel CS. Relaxin Inhibits the Cardiac Myofibroblast NLRP3 Inflammasome as Part of Its Anti-Fibrotic Actions via the Angiotensin Type 2 and ATP (P2X7) Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137074. [PMID: 35806076 PMCID: PMC9266307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic NLRP3 inflammasome activation can promote fibrosis through its production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Conversely, recombinant human relaxin (RLX) can inhibit the pro-fibrotic interactions between IL-1β, IL-18 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Here, the broader extent by which RLX targeted the myofibroblast NLRP3 inflammasome to mediate its anti-fibrotic effects was elucidated. Primary human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), stimulated with TGF-β1 (to promote myofibroblast (HCMF) differentiation), LPS (to prime the NLRP3 inflammasome) and ATP (to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome) (T+L+A) or benzoylbenzoyl-ATP (to activate the ATP receptor; P2X7R) (T+L+Bz), co-expressed relaxin family peptide receptor-1 (RXFP1), the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) and P2X7R, and underwent increased protein expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18. Whilst RLX co-administration to HCMFs significantly prevented the T+L+A- or T+L+Bz-stimulated increase in these end points, the inhibitory effects of RLX were annulled by the pharmacological antagonism of either RXFP1, AT2R, P2X7R, TLR-4, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or caspase-1. The RLX-induced amelioration of left ventricular inflammation, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis in isoproterenol (ISO)-injured mice, was also attenuated by P2X7R antagonism. Thus, the ability of RLX to ameliorate the myofibroblast NLRP3 inflammasome as part of its anti-fibrotic effects, appeared to involve RXFP1, AT2R, P2X7R and the inhibition of TLR-4, ROS and caspase-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Tapia Cáceres
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (F.T.C.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Tracey A. Gaspari
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (F.T.C.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Chrishan S. Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; (F.T.C.); (T.A.G.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Correspondence:
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11
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Chunduri P, Patel SA, Levick SP. Relaxin/serelaxin for cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in hypertension. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2022; 94:183-211. [PMID: 35659372 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The pregnancy related hormone relaxin is produced throughout the reproductive system. However, relaxin also has important cardiovascular effects as part of the adaptation that the cardiovascular system undergoes in response to the extra demands of pregnancy. These effects are primarily mediated by the relaxin family peptide receptor 1, which is one of four known relaxin receptors. The effects of relaxin on the cardiovascular system during pregnancy, as well as its anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties, have led to extensive studies into the potential of relaxin therapy as an approach to treat heart failure. Cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and endothelial cells all possess relaxin family peptide receptor 1, allowing for direct effects of therapeutic relaxin on the heart. Many pre-clinical animal studies have demonstrated a beneficial effect of exogenous relaxin on adverse cardiac remodeling including inflammation, fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis, as well as effects on cardiac contractile function. Despite this, clinical studies have yielded disappointing results for the synthetic seralaxin, even though seralaxin was well tolerated. This article will provide background on relaxin in the context of normal physiology, as well as the role of relaxin in pregnancy-related adaptations of the cardiovascular system. We will also present evidence from pre-clinical animal studies that demonstrate the potential benefits of relaxin therapy, as well as discussing the results from clinical trials. Finally, we will discuss possible reasons for the failure of these clinical trials as well as steps being taken to potentially improve relaxin therapy for heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Chunduri
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shrey A Patel
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott P Levick
- Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States.
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12
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The Relaxin-3 Receptor, RXFP3, Is a Modulator of Aging-Related Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084387. [PMID: 35457203 PMCID: PMC9027355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the aging process our body becomes less well equipped to deal with cellular stress, resulting in an increase in unrepaired damage. This causes varying degrees of impaired functionality and an increased risk of mortality. One of the most effective anti-aging strategies involves interventions that combine simultaneous glucometabolic support with augmented DNA damage protection/repair. Thus, it seems prudent to develop therapeutic strategies that target this combinatorial approach. Studies have shown that the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPase activating protein GIT2 (GIT2) acts as a keystone protein in the aging process. GIT2 can control both DNA repair and glucose metabolism. Through in vivo co-regulation analyses it was found that GIT2 forms a close coexpression-based relationship with the relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3). Cellular RXFP3 expression is directly affected by DNA damage and oxidative stress. Overexpression or stimulation of this receptor, by its endogenous ligand relaxin 3 (RLN3), can regulate the DNA damage response and repair processes. Interestingly, RLN3 is an insulin-like peptide and has been shown to control multiple disease processes linked to aging mechanisms, e.g., anxiety, depression, memory dysfunction, appetite, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Here we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the various roles of RXFP3/RLN3 signaling in aging and age-related disorders.
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13
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Liu J, Yang K, Jin Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Zhang X, Yu S, Song E, Chen S, Zhang J, Jing G, An R. H3 relaxin protects against calcium oxalate crystal-induced renal inflammatory pyroptosis. Cell Prolif 2020; 53:e12902. [PMID: 32945585 PMCID: PMC7574868 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals can activate inflammatory cytokines by triggering inflammasomes, which cause damage to the adhered epithelium, a dysfunctional microenvironment and even renal failure. However, a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of these crystals on damage and cytokine function in renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) remains limited and to be explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS We detected the pyroptosis of TECs induced after exposure to CaOx crystals and demonstrated the significance of cytokine activation in the subsequent inflammatory processes through a proteomic study. We then conducted animal and cell experiments to verify relevant mechanisms through morphological, protein, histological and biochemical approaches. Human serum samples were further tested to help explain the pathophysiological mechanism of H3 relaxin. RESULTS We verified that crystal-induced extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) upregulation via the membrane purinergic 2X7 receptor (P2X7 R) promotes ROS generation and thereby activates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated interleukin-1β/18 maturation and gasdermin D cleavage. Human recombinant relaxin-3 (H3 relaxin) can act on the transmembrane receptor RXFP1 to produce cAMP and subsequently improves crystal-derived damage via ATP consumption. Additionally, endogenous relaxin-3 was found to be elevated in patients with renal calculus and can thus serve as a biomarker. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide previously unidentified mechanistic insights into CaOx crystal-induced inflammatory pyroptotic damage and H3 relaxin-mediated anti-inflammatory protection and thus suggest a series of potential therapeutic targets and methods for but not limited to nephrocalcinosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Liu
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Kelaier Yang
- Department of EndocrinologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yinshan Jin
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yadong Liu
- Department of UrologyNingbo First HospitalZhejiangChina
| | - Yaodong Chen
- Department of Ultrasonic ImagingThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityShanxiChina
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Department of CardiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Shiliang Yu
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Erlin Song
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Song Chen
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Jingbo Zhang
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Guanhua Jing
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
| | - Ruihua An
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHeilongjiangChina
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14
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15
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Wang C, Pinar AA, Widdop RE, Hossain MA, Bathgate RAD, Denton KM, Kemp-Harper BK, Samuel CS. The anti-fibrotic actions of relaxin are mediated through AT 2 R-associated protein phosphatases via RXFP1-AT 2 R functional crosstalk in human cardiac myofibroblasts. FASEB J 2020; 34:8217-8233. [PMID: 32297670 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902506r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a hallmark of several cardiovascular diseases. The relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) agonist, relaxin, has rapidly occurring anti-fibrotic actions which are mediated through RXFP1 and angiotensin II receptor crosstalk on renal and cardiac myofibroblasts. Here, we investigated whether this would allow relaxin to indirectly activate angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2 R)-specific signal transduction in primary human cardiac myofibroblasts (HCMFs). The anti-fibrotic effects of recombinant human relaxin (RLX; 16.8 nM) or the AT2 R-agonist, Compound 21 (C21; 1 μM), were evaluated in TGF-β1-stimulated HCMFs, in the absence or presence of an RXFP1 antagonist (1 μM) or AT2 R antagonist (0.1 μM) to confirm RXFP1-AT2 R crosstalk. Competition binding for RXFP1 was determined. Western blotting was performed to determine which AT2 R-specific protein phosphatases were expressed by HCMFs; then, the anti-fibrotic effects of RLX and/or C21 were evaluated in the absence or presence of pharmacological inhibition (NSC95397 (1 μM) for MKP-1; okadaic acid (10 nM) for PP2A) or siRNA-knockdown of these phosphatases after 72 hours. The RLX- or C21-induced increase in ERK1/2 and nNOS phosphorylation, and decrease in α-SMA (myofibroblast differentiation) and collagen-I expression by HCMFs was abrogated by pharmacological blockade of RXFP1 or the AT2 R, confirming RXFP1-AT2 R crosstalk in these cells. HCMFs were found to express AT2 R-dependent MKP-1 and PP2A phosphatases, while pharmacological blockade or siRNA-knockdown of either phosphatase also abolished RLX and/or C21 signal transduction in HCMFs (all P < .05 vs RLX or C21 alone). These findings demonstrated that RLX can indirectly activate AT2 R-dependent phosphatase activity in HCMFs by signaling through RXFP1-AT2 R crosstalk, which have important therapeutic implications for its anti-fibrotic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Anita A Pinar
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Robert E Widdop
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Mohammed A Hossain
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Barbara K Kemp-Harper
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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16
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Valkovic AL, Bathgate RA, Samuel CS, Kocan M. Understanding relaxin signalling at the cellular level. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 487:24-33. [PMID: 30592984 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The peptide hormone relaxin mediates many biological actions including anti-fibrotic, vasodilatory, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and organ protective effects across a range of tissues. At the cellular level, relaxin binds to the G protein-coupled receptor relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) to activate a variety of downstream signal transduction pathways. This signalling cascade is complex and also varies in diverse cellular backgrounds. Moreover, RXFP1 signalling shows crosstalk with other receptors to mediate some of its physiological functions. This review summarises known signalling pathways induced by acute versus chronic treatment with relaxin across a range of cell types, it describes RXFP1 crosstalk with other receptors, signalling pathways activated by other ligands targeting RXFP1, and it also outlines physiological relevance of RXFP1 signalling outputs. Comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of relaxin actions in fibrosis, vasodilation, as well as organ protection, will further support relaxin's clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam L Valkovic
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ross Ad Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Martina Kocan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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17
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Ng HH, Shen M, Samuel CS, Schlossmann J, Bennett RG. Relaxin and extracellular matrix remodeling: Mechanisms and signaling pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 487:59-65. [PMID: 30660699 PMCID: PMC7384500 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is associated with accumulation of excess fibrillar collagen, leading to tissue dysfunction. Numerous processes, including inflammation, myofibroblast activation, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, play a role in the establishment and progression of fibrosis. Relaxin is a peptide hormone with well-known antifibrotic properties that result from its action on numerous cellular targets to reduce fibrosis. Relaxin activates multiple signal transduction pathways as a mechanism to suppress inflammation and myofibroblast activation in fibrosis. In this review, the general mechanisms underlying fibrotic diseases are described, along with the current state of knowledge regarding cellular targets of relaxin. Finally, an overview is presented summarizing the signaling pathways activated by relaxin and other relaxin family peptide receptor agonists to suppress fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooi Hooi Ng
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Matthew Shen
- Cardiovascular Disease Theme, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Theme, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jens Schlossmann
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Robert G Bennett
- Research Service, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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18
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Warbrick I, Rabkin SW. Effect of the peptides Relaxin, Neuregulin, Ghrelin and Glucagon-like peptide-1, on cardiomyocyte factors involved in the molecular mechanisms leading to diastolic dysfunction and/or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Peptides 2019; 111:33-41. [PMID: 29807087 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents an important cardiac condition because of its increasing prevalence, resistance to treatment and high associated morbidity and mortality. Two of the major mechanisms responsible for HFpEF are impaired cardiomyocyte sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a), which is responsible for calcium reuptake into the SR, and cardiac fibroblasts/myofibroblasts that produce collagen or myocardial fibrosis. Phospholamban (PLB), in the SR and endoplasmic reticulum, is the primary regulator of SERCA2a in the heart and acts as a reversible inhibitor of SERCA2a. Glucagon-like peptide-1, a 30 amino acid peptide, improves diastolic function through increasing SERCA2a expression and activity as well as by decreasing phosphorylation of Ryanodine receptors. It also enhances collagen production through enhanced procollagen IalphaI/IIIalphaI, connective tissue growth factor, fibronectin, TGF-β3 as well as Interleukin -10, -1beta, and -6 gene expression. Relaxin-2, a two chain, 53 amino acid peptide, increases Ser16- and Thr17-phosphorylation levels of PLB, thereby relieving SERCA2a of its inhibition. H3 Relaxin inhibits TGF-β1-stimulated collagen deposition through H3 relaxin-induced increases in pSmad2. Neuregulin-1, an epidermal growth factor, induces nitric oxide and PI-3 kinase activation that enhance SERCA2 activity. Neuregulin-1 was associated with less myocardial macrophage infiltration and cytokine expression reducing collagen deposition. Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid peptide, improves SERCA2a function by inducing PLB phosphorylation. Ghrelin also reduces cardiac fibrosis. In summary, Glucagon-like peptide-1, Relaxin-2, Neuregulin-1, and Ghrelin each modify calcium dynamics, collagen expression, and myocardial fibrosis through attenuation of deleterious signaling cascades, and induction of adaptive pathways, representing potential therapeutic targets for HFpEF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon W Rabkin
- University of British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Canada.
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19
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Zhaolin Z, Guohua L, Shiyuan W, Zuo W. Role of pyroptosis in cardiovascular disease. Cell Prolif 2018; 52:e12563. [PMID: 30525268 PMCID: PMC6496801 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 278] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac function is determined by the dynamic equilibrium of various cell types and the extracellular matrix that composes the heart. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, are often accompanied by cell death and acute/chronic inflammatory reactions. Caspase‐dependent pyroptosis is characterized by the activation of pathways leading to the activation of NOD‐like receptors, especially the NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream effector inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐18. Many studies in the past decade have investigated the role of pyroptosis in CVDs. The findings of these studies have led to the development of therapeutic approaches based on the regulation of pyroptosis, and some of these approaches are in clinical trials. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms, regulation and cellular effects of pyroptosis briefly and then discusses the current pyroptosis studies in CVD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeng Zhaolin
- Yueyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Yueyang, China.,Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Li Guohua
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Wu Shiyuan
- Yueyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Yueyang, China
| | - Wang Zuo
- Yueyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Yueyang, China.,Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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20
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You X, Guo ZF, Cheng F, Yi B, Yang F, Liu X, Zhu N, Zhao X, Yan G, Ma XL, Sun J. Transcriptional up-regulation of relaxin-3 by Nur77 attenuates β-adrenergic agonist-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:14001-14011. [PMID: 30006349 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin family peptides have been shown to exert several beneficial effects on the heart, including anti-apoptosis, anti-fibrosis, and anti-hypertrophy activity. Understanding their regulation might provide new opportunities for therapeutic interventions, but the molecular mechanism(s) coordinating relaxin expression in the heart remain largely obscured. Previous work demonstrated a role for the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 in regulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We therefore investigated Nur77 in the hopes of identifying novel relaxin regulators. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) data indicated that ectopic expression of orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 markedly increased the expression of latexin-3 (RLN3), but not relaxin-1 (RLN1), in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs). Furthermore, we found that the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISO) markedly stimulated RLN3 expression, and this stimulation was significantly attenuated in Nur77 knockdown cardiomyocytes and Nur77 knockout hearts. We showed that Nur77 significantly increased RLN3 promoter activity via specific binding to the RLN3 promoter, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Furthermore, we found that Nur77 overexpression potently inhibited ISO-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, whereas this protective effect was significantly attenuated in RLN3 knockdown cardiomyocytes, suggesting that Nur77-induced RLN3 expression is an important mediator for the suppression of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. These findings show that Nur77 regulates RLN3 expression, therefore suppressing apoptosis in the heart, and suggest that activation of Nur77 may represent a useful therapeutic strategy for inhibition of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua You
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.,the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Zhi-Fu Guo
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.,the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Fang Cheng
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Bing Yi
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Fan Yang
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Xinzhu Liu
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Ni Zhu
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xianxian Zhao
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guijun Yan
- the Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xin-Liang Ma
- the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
| | - Jianxin Sun
- From the Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China, .,the Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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21
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Zhang X, Fu Y, Li H, Shen L, Chang Q, Pan L, Hong S, Yin X. H3 relaxin inhibits the collagen synthesis via ROS- and P2X7R-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in cardiac fibroblasts under high glucose. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:1816-1825. [PMID: 29314607 PMCID: PMC5824385 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and P2X7R activation induced by high glucose increases NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Although H3 relaxin has been shown to inhibit cardiac fibrosis induced by isoproterenol, the mechanism has not been well studied. Here, we demonstrated that high glucose (HG) induced the collagen synthesis by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to caspase‐1 activation, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐18 secretion in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts. Moreover, we used a high‐glucose model with neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts and showed that the activation of ROS and P2X7R was augmented and that ROS‐ and P2X7R‐mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation was critical for the collagen synthesis. Inhibition of ROS and P2X7R decreased NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated collagen synthesis, similar to the effects of H3 relaxin. Furthermore, H3 relaxin reduced the collagen synthesis via ROS‐ and P2X7R‐mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in response to HG. These results provide a mechanism by which H3 relaxin alleviates NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated collagen synthesis through the inhibition of ROS and P2X7R under HG conditions and suggest that H3 relaxin represents a potential drug for alleviating cardiac fibrosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Zhang
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Fu
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Li
- The Department of Cardiology, The Fifth hospital of Harbin, Harbin, China
| | - Li Shen
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qing Chang
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Liya Pan
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Siting Hong
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinhua Yin
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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22
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Zhang X, Pan L, Yang K, Fu Y, Liu Y, Chen W, Ma X, Yin X. Alterations of relaxin and its receptor system components in experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy rats. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 370:297-304. [PMID: 28776188 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
High glucose induces apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts, contributing to diabetic cardiomyopathy. In this work, we explore the production of relaxin alterations and the significance of their receptor system components in the hearts of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy rats. We measured rat relaxin-1 (equivalent to human relaxin-2), relaxin-3, RXFP1 and RXFP3 mRNA expression in the hearts of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy rats. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) and cardiac fibroblasts were treated with 5.5 mmol/l normal glucose (NG) and 33 mmol/l high glucose (HG) for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Rat relaxin-1, relaxin-3, RXFP1 and RXFP3 mRNA expression were determined by real-time PCR. In the present study, we offer the first evidence that Relaxin-1 mRNA significantly increased and Relaxin-3 mRNA expression decreased at 4 and 8 weeks after STZ in the hearts of diabetic rats. In addition, significant down regulation of the mRNA expression of RXFP1 and RXFP3 was observed at 4 w after STZ; however, the mRNA expression levels of RXFP1 and RXFP3 were increased at 8 weeks after STZ. Apoptotic NRVMs induced by high glucose generate a decreased level of relaxin-1 and RXFP1. In HG-administered cardiac fibroblasts, Relaxin-1 mRNA was significantly increased and relaxin-3 mRNA was significantly decreased. Additionally, the mRNA expression of RXFP1 was decreased, and the mRNA expression of RXFP3 was increased. This results showed that an important role of relaxin-2, relaxin-3 and their receptors system in the regulation of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Zhang
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China
| | - Liya Pan
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China
| | - Kelaier Yang
- The Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Fu
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China
| | - Yue Liu
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China
| | - Wenjia Chen
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- The Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xue-Fu Road, Nan-Gang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150086, China.
| | - Xinhua Yin
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, China.
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23
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Zhang C, Baimoukhametova DV, Smith CM, Bains JS, Gundlach AL. Relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in mouse hypothalamus: no effect of RXFP3 activation on corticosterone, despite reduced presynaptic excitatory input onto paraventricular CRH neurons in vitro. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:1725-1739. [PMID: 28314951 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4575-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling is proposed to be involved in the neuromodulatory control of arousal- and stress-related neural circuits. Furthermore, previous studies in rats have led to the proposal that relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling is associated with activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, but direct evidence for RXFP3-related actions on the activity of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons is lacking. In this study, we investigated characteristics of the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in mouse hypothalamus. Administration of an RXFP3 agonist (RXFP3-A2) intra-cerebroventricularly or directly into the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) of C57BL/6J mice did not alter corticosterone levels. Similarly, there were no differences between serum corticosterone levels in Rxfp3 knockout (C57BL/6JRXFP3TM1) and wild-type mice at baseline and after stress, despite detection of the predicted stress-induced increases in serum corticosterone. We examined the nature of the relaxin-3 innervation of PVN in wild-type mice and in Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice that co-express the tdTomato fluorophore in CRH neurons, identifying abundant relaxin-3 fibres in the peri-PVN region, but only sparse fibres associated with densely packed CRH neurons. In whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of tdTomato-positive CRH neurons in these mice, we observed a reduction in sEPSC frequency following local application of RXFP3-A2, consistent with an activation of RXFP3 on presynaptic glutamatergic afferents in the PVN region. These studies clarify the relationship between relaxin-3/RXFP3 inputs and CRH neurons in mouse PVN, with implications for the interpretation of current and previous in vivo studies and future investigations of this stress-related signalling network in normal and transgenic mice, under normal and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Zhang
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - D V Baimoukhametova
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - C M Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - J S Bains
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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24
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Samuel CS, Royce SG, Hewitson TD, Denton KM, Cooney TE, Bennett RG. Anti-fibrotic actions of relaxin. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:962-976. [PMID: 27250825 PMCID: PMC5406285 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis refers to the hardening or scarring of tissues that usually results from aberrant wound healing in response to organ injury, and its manifestations in various organs have collectively been estimated to contribute to around 45-50% of deaths in the Western world. Despite this, there is currently no effective cure for the tissue structural and functional damage induced by fibrosis-related disorders. Relaxin meets several criteria of an effective anti-fibrotic based on its specific ability to inhibit pro-fibrotic cytokine and/or growth factor-mediated, but not normal/unstimulated, fibroblast proliferation, differentiation and matrix production. Furthermore, relaxin augments matrix degradation through its ability to up-regulate the release and activation of various matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinases and/or being able to down-regulate tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase activity. Relaxin can also indirectly suppress fibrosis through its other well-known (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-hypertrophic, anti-apoptotic, angiogenic, wound healing and vasodilator) properties. This review will outline the organ-specific and general anti-fibrotic significance of exogenously administered relaxin and its mechanisms of action that have been documented in various non-reproductive organs such as the cardiovascular system, kidney, lung, liver, skin and tendons. In addition, it will outline the influence of sex on relaxin's anti-fibrotic actions, highlighting its potential as an emerging anti-fibrotic therapeutic. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Samuel
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of PharmacologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - S G Royce
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of PharmacologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - T D Hewitson
- Department of NephrologyRoyal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - K M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of PhysiologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - T E Cooney
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) HamotEriePAUSA
| | - R G Bennett
- Research Service 151VA Nebraska‐Western Iowa Health Care SystemOmahaNEUSA
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNEUSA
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25
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Sarwar M, Du XJ, Dschietzig TB, Summers RJ. The actions of relaxin on the human cardiovascular system. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:933-949. [PMID: 27239943 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The insulin-like peptide relaxin, originally identified as a hormone of pregnancy, is now known to exert a range of pleiotropic effects including vasodilatory, anti-fibrotic, angiogenic, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects in both males and females. Relaxin produces these effects by binding to a cognate receptor RXFP1 and activating a variety of signalling pathways including cAMP, cGMP and MAPKs as well as by altering gene expression of TGF-β, MMPs, angiogenic growth factors and endothelin receptors. The peptide has been shown to be effective in halting or reversing many of the adverse effects including fibrosis in animal models of cardiovascular disease including ischaemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Relaxin given to humans is safe and produces favourable haemodynamic changes. Serelaxin, the recombinant form of relaxin, is now in extended phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acute heart failure. Previous clinical studies indicated that a 48 h infusion of relaxin improved 180 day mortality, yet the mechanism underlying this effect is not clear. This article provides an overview of the cellular mechanism of effects of relaxin and summarizes its beneficial actions in animal models and in the clinic. We also hypothesize potential mechanisms for the clinical efficacy of relaxin, identify current knowledge gaps and suggest new ways in which relaxin could be useful therapeutically. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Sarwar
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Australia
| | - Xiao-Jun Du
- Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas B Dschietzig
- Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany.,Campus Mitte, Medical Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Relaxera Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Bensheim, Germany
| | - Roger J Summers
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Australia
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26
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Braun BC, Müller K, Jewgenow K. Expression profiles of relaxin family peptides and their receptors indicate their influence on spermatogenesis in the domestic cat (Felis catus). Domest Anim Endocrinol 2015; 52:25-34. [PMID: 25704248 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Disturbed spermatogenesis is a common problem in felines. Studying spermatogenesis in the domestic cat can improve the understanding of the biological background and help to counteract fertility problems in other feline species. Here, we analyzed 3 relaxin family peptides (relaxin, relaxin-3, and INSL3) and their receptors (RXFP1, RXFP2, and RXFP3) as potential spermatogenic factors involving their expression in the testis at different stages of its development. It may be concluded from its stage-dependent expression that relaxin, together with RXFP1, appears to be involved in the first stage of spermatogenesis, whereas relaxin-3 via binding to RXFP3 influences spermiogenesis. Furthermore, correlations were observed between relaxin, relaxin-3, RXFP1, RXFP2 and RXFP3 messenger RNA expression, and the relative numbers of haploid cells in testes. The peptide INSL3 was highly expressed at all testis development stages. Because of the low and stage-independent expression of its receptor RXFP2, an auto- and/or paracrine function of INSL3 in spermatogenesis seems unlikely. In the adult testis, messenger RNA expression of relaxin, RXFP1, and RXFP3 predominantly occurs in the tubular testis compartment, whereas INLS3 is mainly expressed in the interstitium.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Braun
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Reproduction Biology, PF 700430, 10324 Berlin, Germany.
| | - K Müller
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Reproduction Biology, PF 700430, 10324 Berlin, Germany
| | - K Jewgenow
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Reproduction Biology, PF 700430, 10324 Berlin, Germany
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Zhang X, Ma X, Zhao M, Zhang B, Chi J, Liu W, Chen W, Fu Y, Liu Y, Yin X. H2 and H3 relaxin inhibit high glucose-induced apoptosis in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Biochimie 2014; 108:59-67. [PMID: 25446652 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
High concentrations of glucose induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and contribute to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Relaxin-2 and relaxin-3 are two members of the relaxin peptide family that are cardioprotective. However, it remains unknown whether relaxin-2 or relaxin-3 can regulate apoptosis in high glucose treated-neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). In cultured NRVMs, 33 mmol/l high glucose (HG) increased apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. HG-increased the protein expression of cleaved caspase-8 and -9, two initiators of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis, Caspase-3 was attenuated by human recombinant relaxin-2 (H2 relaxin) or relaxin-3 (H3 relaxin), indicating that H2 and H3 relaxin inhibited HG-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) markers CHOP and caspase-12 were markedly increased in HG-treated NRVMs, leading to apoptosis; this effect was also effectively attenuated by H2 relaxin or H3 relaxin. Treatment of NRVMs with HG reduced autophagy which cannot be adjusted by H2 relaxin or H3 relaxin. In conclusion, HG-induced apoptosis in NRVMs was mediated, in part, by the activation of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis and ERS, all inhibited by H2 relaxin or H3 relaxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Zhang
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- The Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jinyu Chi
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Wenxiu Liu
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Wenjia Chen
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Yu Fu
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Yue Liu
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xinhua Yin
- The Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No.23, YouZheng Road, NanGang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
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Huuskes BM, Wise AF, Cox AJ, Lim EX, Payne NL, Kelly DJ, Samuel CS, Ricardo SD. Combination therapy of mesenchymal stem cells and serelaxin effectively attenuates renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy. FASEB J 2014; 29:540-53. [PMID: 25395452 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-254789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) results from the development of fibrosis, ultimately leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can accelerate renal repair following acute injury, the establishment of fibrosis during CKD may affect their potential to influence regeneration capacity. Here we tested the novel combination of MSCs with the antifibrotic serelaxin to repair and protect the kidney 7 d post-unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), when fibrosis is established. Male C57BL6 mice were sham-operated or UUO-inured (n = 4-6) and received vehicle, MSCs (1 × 10(6)), serelaxin (0.5 mg/kg per d), or the combination of both. In vivo tracing studies with luciferin/enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-tagged MSCs showed specific localization in the obstructed kidney where they remained for 36 h. Combination therapy conferred significant protection from UUO-induced fibrosis, as indicated by hydroxyproline analysis (P < 0.001 vs. vehicle, P < 0.05 vs. MSC or serelaxin alone). This was accompanied by preserved structural architecture, decreased tubular epithelial injury (P < 0.01 vs. MSCs alone), macrophage infiltration, and myofibroblast localization in the kidney (both P < 0.01 vs. vehicle). Combination therapy also stimulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity over either treatment alone (P < 0.05 vs. either treatment alone). These results suggest that the presence of an antifibrotic in conjunction with MSCs ameliorates established kidney fibrosis and augments tissue repair to a greater extent than either treatment alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke M Huuskes
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrea F Wise
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison J Cox
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ee X Lim
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Natalie L Payne
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Darren J Kelly
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chrishan S Samuel
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sharon D Ricardo
- *Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and Australia Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Villalta SA, Rosenthal W, Martinez L, Kaur A, Sparwasser T, Tidball JG, Margeta M, Spencer MJ, Bluestone JA. Regulatory T cells suppress muscle inflammation and injury in muscular dystrophy. Sci Transl Med 2014; 6:258ra142. [PMID: 25320234 PMCID: PMC4889432 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined the hypothesis that regulatory T cells (Tregs) modulate muscle injury and inflammation in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Although Tregs were largely absent in the muscle of wild-type mice and normal human muscle, they were present in necrotic lesions, displayed an activated phenotype, and showed increased expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in dystrophic muscle from mdx mice. Depletion of Tregs exacerbated muscle injury and the severity of muscle inflammation, which was characterized by an enhanced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) response and activation of M1 macrophages. To test the therapeutic value of targeting Tregs in muscular dystrophy, we treated mdx mice with IL-2/anti-IL-2 complexes and found that Tregs and IL-10 concentrations were increased in muscle, resulting in reduced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and decreased myofiber injury. These findings suggest that Tregs modulate the progression of muscular dystrophy by suppressing type 1 inflammation in muscle associated with muscle fiber injury, and highlight the potential of Treg-modulating agents as therapeutics for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Armando Villalta
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Wendy Rosenthal
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Leonel Martinez
- Department of Neurology and Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Amanjot Kaur
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Tim Sparwasser
- Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - James G Tidball
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marta Margeta
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Melissa J Spencer
- Department of Neurology and Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Bluestone
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Meadows KL, Byrnes EM. Sex- and age-specific differences in relaxin family peptide receptor expression within the hippocampus and amygdala in rats. Neuroscience 2014; 284:337-348. [PMID: 25313002 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Relaxin is an essential pregnancy-related hormone with broad peripheral effects mediated by activation of relaxin-like family peptide 1 receptors (RXFP1). More recent studies suggest an additional role for relaxin as a neuropeptide, with RXFP1 receptors expressed in numerous brain regions. Neurons in an area of the brainstem known as the nucleus incertus (NI) produce relaxin 3 (RLN3), the most recently identified neuropeptide in the relaxin family. RLN3 has been shown to activate both RXFP1 and relaxin-like family peptide receptor 3 (RXFP3) receptor subtypes. Studies suggest wide-ranging neuromodulatory effects of both RXFP1 and RXFP3 activation, although to date the majority of studies have been conducted in young males. In the current study, we examined potential sex- and age-related changes in RLN3 gene expression in the NI as well as RXFP1 and RXFP3 gene expression in the dorsal hippocampus (HI), ventral hippocampus (vHI) and amygdala (AMYG) using young adult (9-12weeks) and middle-aged (9-12months) male and female rats. In addition, regional changes in RXFP1 and RXFP3 protein expression were examined in the CA1, CA2/CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) as well as within basolateral (BLA), central (CeA), and medial (MeA) amygdaloid nuclei. In the NI, RLN3 showed an age-related decrease in males. In the HI, only the RXFP3 receptor showed an age-related change in gene expression, however, both receptor subtypes showed age-related changes in protein expression that were region specific. Additionally, while gene and protein expression of both receptors increased with age in AMYG, these effects were both region- and sex-specific. Finally, overall males displayed a greater number of cells that express the RXFP3 protein in all of the amygdaloid nuclei examined. Cognitive and emotional processes regulated by activity within the HI and AMYG are modulated by both sex and age. The vast majority of studies exploring the influence of sex on age-related changes in the HI and AMYG have focused on sex hormones, with few studies examining the role of neuropeptides. The current findings suggest that changes in relaxin family peptides may contribute to the significant sex differences observed in these brain regions as a function of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Meadows
- Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, Grafton, MA 01536, United States.
| | - E M Byrnes
- Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, Grafton, MA 01536, United States.
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Samuel CS, Bodaragama H, Chew JY, Widdop RE, Royce SG, Hewitson TD. Serelaxin Is a More Efficacious Antifibrotic Than Enalapril in an Experimental Model of Heart Disease. Hypertension 2014; 64:315-22. [DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.114.03594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan S. Samuel
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (C.S.S., H.B., J.Y.C., R.E.W., S.G.R.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.S.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (C.S.S.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.D.H.); and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital,
| | - Hasangika Bodaragama
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (C.S.S., H.B., J.Y.C., R.E.W., S.G.R.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.S.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (C.S.S.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.D.H.); and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital,
| | - Jacqueline Y. Chew
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (C.S.S., H.B., J.Y.C., R.E.W., S.G.R.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.S.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (C.S.S.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.D.H.); and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital,
| | - Robert E. Widdop
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (C.S.S., H.B., J.Y.C., R.E.W., S.G.R.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.S.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (C.S.S.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.D.H.); and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital,
| | - Simon G. Royce
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (C.S.S., H.B., J.Y.C., R.E.W., S.G.R.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.S.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (C.S.S.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.D.H.); and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital,
| | - Tim D. Hewitson
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (C.S.S., H.B., J.Y.C., R.E.W., S.G.R.); Neuropeptides Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.S.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (C.S.S.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (T.D.H.); and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital,
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Bennett RG, Heimann DG, Singh S, Simpson RL, Tuma DJ. Relaxin decreases the severity of established hepatic fibrosis in mice. Liver Int 2014; 34:416-26. [PMID: 23870027 PMCID: PMC3843971 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic fibrosis is characterized by excess collagen deposition, decreased extracellular matrix degradation and activation of the hepatic stellate cells. The hormone relaxin has shown promise in the treatment of fibrosis in a number of tissues, but the effect of relaxin on established hepatic fibrosis is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of relaxin on an in vivo model after establishing hepatic fibrosis METHODS Male mice were made fibrotic by carbon tetrachloride treatment for 4 weeks, followed by treatment with two doses of relaxin (25 or 75 μg/kg/day) or vehicle for 4 weeks, with continued administration of carbon tetrachloride. RESULTS Relaxin significantly decreased total hepatic collagen and smooth muscle actin content at both doses, and suppressed collagen I expression at the higher dose. Relaxin increased the expression of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP13 and MMP3, decreased the expression of MMP2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) and increased the overall level of collagen-degrading activity. Relaxin decreased TGFβ-induced Smad2 nuclear localization in mouse hepatic stellate cells. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that relaxin reduced collagen deposition and HSC activation in established hepatic fibrosis despite the presence of continued hepatic insult. This reduced fibrosis was associated with increased expression of the fibrillar collagen-degrading enzyme MMP13, decreased expression of TIMP2, and enhanced collagen-degrading activity, and impaired TGFβ signalling, consistent with relaxin's effects on activated fibroblastic cells. The results suggest that relaxin may be an effective treatment for the treatment of established hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G. Bennett
- Research Service, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Dean G. Heimann
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Sudhir Singh
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Ronda L. Simpson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Dean J. Tuma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
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Anand-Ivell R, Ivell R. Regulation of the reproductive cycle and early pregnancy by relaxin family peptides. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 382:472-479. [PMID: 23994019 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The relaxin family of peptide hormones are structurally closely related to one another sharing a heterodimeric A-B structure, like that of insulin. They may also be active as unprocessed B-C-A pro-forms. Relaxin has been shown to pay a key role within the ovary, being involved in follicle growth, and ovulation. Relaxin is produced in large amounts also by the corpus luteum where it acts as an endocrine hormone positively affecting implantation, placentation and vascularization during the all-important first trimester phase of pregnancy establishment. Relaxin exerts its functions via the receptor RXFP1. Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) in contrast acts through the related receptor RXFP2, and plays an essential role in the production of androgens within growing antral follicles. INSL3 is also produced in large amounts by the male fetus shortly after sex determination, where it controls the first transabdominal phase of testicular descent. However, this fetal INSL3 is also able to influence placental and maternal physiology, indicating associations with later preeclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction. Other members of this relaxin-like family of peptides, such as INSL4, INSL5 and INSL6 are less well studied, though all suggest modulatory roles in ovarian and/or placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Ivell
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Cernaro V, Lacquaniti A, Lupica R, Buemi A, Trimboli D, Giorgianni G, Bolignano D, Buemi M. Relaxin: new pathophysiological aspects and pharmacological perspectives for an old protein. Med Res Rev 2013; 34:77-105. [PMID: 23401142 DOI: 10.1002/med.21277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human relaxin-2 (hereafter simply defined as "relaxin") is a 6-kDa peptidic hormone best known for the physiological role played during pregnancy in the growth and differentiation of the reproductive tract and in the renal and systemic hemodynamic changes. This factor can also be involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension and heart failure, in the molecular pathways of fibrosis and cancer, and in angiogenesis and bone remodeling. It belongs to the relaxin peptide family, whose members comprehensively exert numerous effects through interaction with different types of receptors, classified as relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors (RXFP1, RXFP2, RXFP3, RXFP4). Research looks toward the in-depth examination and complete understanding of relaxin in its various pleiotropic actions. The intent is to evaluate the likelihood of employing this substance for therapeutic purposes, for instance in diseases where a deficit could be part of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, also avoiding any adverse effect. Relaxin is already being considered as a promising drug, especially in acute heart failure. A careful study of the different RXFPs and their receptors and the comprehension of all biological activities of these hormones will probably provide new drugs with a potential wide range of therapeutic applications in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Cernaro
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98100, Italy
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Ahmad N, Wang W, Nair R, Kapila S. Relaxin induces matrix-metalloproteinases-9 and -13 via RXFP1: induction of MMP-9 involves the PI3K, ERK, Akt and PKC-ζ pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 363:46-61. [PMID: 22835547 PMCID: PMC3447121 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2012.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
We determined the precise role of relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors-1 and -2 in the regulation of MMP-9 and -13 by relaxin, and delineated the signaling cascade that contributes to relaxin's modulation of MMP-9 in fibrocartilaginous cells. Relaxin treatment of cells in which RXFP1 was silenced resulted in diminished induction of MMP-9 and -13 by relaxin, whereas overexpression of RXFP1 potentiated the relaxin-induced expression of these proteinases. Suppression or overexpression of RXFP2 resulted in no changes in the relaxin-induced MMP-9 and -13. Studies using chemical inhibitors and siRNAs to signaling molecules showed that PI3K, Akt, ERK and PKC-ζ and the transcription factors Elk-1, c-fos and, to a lesser extent, NF-κB are involved in relaxin's induction of MMP-9. Our findings provide the first characterization of signaling cascade involved in the regulation of any MMP by relaxin and offer mechanistic insights on how relaxin likely mediates extracellular matrix turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisar Ahmad
- The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA
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Chan LJ, Rosengren KJ, Layfield SL, Bathgate RAD, Separovic F, Samuel CS, Hossain MA, Wade JD. Identification of key residues essential for the structural fold and receptor selectivity within the A-chain of human gene-2 (H2) relaxin. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:41152-64. [PMID: 23024363 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.409284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Human gene-2 (H2) relaxin is currently in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acute heart failure. It is a 53-amino acid insulin-like peptide comprising two chains and three disulfide bonds. It interacts with two of the relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors. Although its cognate receptor is RXFP1, it is also able to cross-react with RXFP2, the native receptor for a related peptide, insulin-like peptide 3. In order to understand the basis of this cross-reactivity, it is important to elucidate both binding and activation mechanisms of this peptide. The primary binding mechanism of this hormone has been extensively studied and well defined. H2 relaxin binds to the leucine-rich repeats of RXFP1 and RXFP2 using B-chain-specific residues. However, little is known about the secondary interaction that involves the A-chain of H2 relaxin and transmembrane exoloops of the receptors. We demonstrate here through extensive mutation of the A-chain that the secondary interaction between H2 relaxin and RXFP1 is not driven by any single amino acid, although residues Tyr-3, Leu-20, and Phe-23 appear to contribute. Interestingly, these same three residues are important drivers of the affinity and activity of H2 relaxin for RXFP2 with additional minor contributions from Lys-9, His-12, Lys-17, Arg-18, and Arg-22. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of secondary activation interaction of RXFP1 and RXFP2 by H2 relaxin, leading to a potent and RXFP1-selective analog, H2:A(4-24)(F23A), which was tested in vitro and in vivo and found to significantly inhibit collagen deposition similar to native H2 relaxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda J Chan
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Chow BSM, Chew EGY, Zhao C, Bathgate RAD, Hewitson TD, Samuel CS. Relaxin signals through a RXFP1-pERK-nNOS-NO-cGMP-dependent pathway to up-regulate matrix metalloproteinases: the additional involvement of iNOS. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42714. [PMID: 22936987 PMCID: PMC3425563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hormone, relaxin, inhibits aberrant myofibroblast differentiation and collagen deposition by disrupting the TGF-β1/Smad2 axis, via its cognate receptor, Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 (RXFP1), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation (pERK) and a neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS)-NO-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent pathway. However, the signalling pathways involved in its additional ability to increase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity remain unknown. This study investigated the extent to which the NO pathway was involved in human gene-2 (H2) relaxin's ability to positively regulate MMP-1 and its rodent orthologue, MMP-13, MMP-2 and MMP-9 (the main collagen-degrading MMPs) in TGF-β1-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts and primary renal myofibroblasts isolated from injured rats; by gelatin zymography (media) and Western blotting (cell layer). H2 relaxin (10-100 ng/ml) significantly increased MMP-1 (by ~50%), MMP-2 (by ~80%) and MMP-9 (by ~80%) in TGF-β1-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts; and MMP-13 (by ~90%), MMP-2 (by ~130%) and MMP-9 (by ~115%) in rat renal myofibroblasts (all p<0.01 vs untreated cells) over 72 hours. The relaxin-induced up-regulation of these MMPs, however, was significantly blocked by a non-selective NOS inhibitor (L-nitroarginine methyl ester (hydrochloride); L-NAME; 75-100 µM), and specific inhibitors to nNOS (N-propyl-L-arginine; NPLA; 0.2-2 µM), iNOS (1400W; 0.5-1 µM) and guanylyl cyclase (ODQ; 5 µM) (all p<0.05 vs H2 relaxin alone), but not eNOS (L-N-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine dihydrochloride; L-NIO; 0.5-5 µM). However, neither of these inhibitors affected basal MMP expression at the concentrations used. Furthermore, of the NOS isoforms expressed in renal myofibroblasts (nNOS and iNOS), H2 relaxin only stimulated nNOS expression, which in turn, was blocked by the ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059; 1 µM). These findings demonstrated that H2 relaxin signals through a RXFP1-pERK-nNOS-NO-cGMP-dependent pathway to mediate its anti-fibrotic actions, and additionally signals through iNOS to up-regulate MMPs; the latter being suppressed by TGF-β1 in myofibroblasts, but released upon H2 relaxin-induced inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryna Suet Man Chow
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elaine Guo Yan Chew
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chongxin Zhao
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ross A. D. Bathgate
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tim D. Hewitson
- Department of Nephrology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chrishan S. Samuel
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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38
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Human relaxin-2: historical perspectives and role in cancer biology. Amino Acids 2012; 43:1131-40. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1375-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Shabanpoor F, Akhter Hossain M, Ryan PJ, Belgi A, Layfield S, Kocan M, Zhang S, Samuel CS, Gundlach AL, Bathgate RAD, Separovic F, Wade JD. Minimization of human relaxin-3 leading to high-affinity analogues with increased selectivity for relaxin-family peptide 3 receptor (RXFP3) over RXFP1. J Med Chem 2012; 55:1671-81. [PMID: 22257012 DOI: 10.1021/jm201505p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin-3 is a neuropeptide that is implicated in the regulation of stress responses and memory. The elucidation of its precise physiological role(s) has, however, been hampered by cross-activation of the relaxin-2 receptor, RXFP1, in the brain. The current study undertook to develop analogues of human relaxin-3 (H3 relaxin) that can selectively bind and activate its receptor, RXFP3. We developed a high-affinity selective agonist (analogue 2) by removal of the intra-A chain disulfide bond and deletion of 10 residues from the N terminus of the A chain. Further truncation of this analogue from the C terminus of the B chain to Cys(B22) and addition of an Arg(B23) led to a high-affinity, RXFP3-selective, competitive antagonist (analogue 3). Central administration of analogue 2 in rats increased food intake, which was blocked by prior coadministration of analogue 3. These novel RXFP3-selective peptides represent valuable pharmacological tools to study the physiological roles of H3 relaxin/RXFP3 systems in the brain and important leads for the development of novel compounds for the treatment of affective and cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazel Shabanpoor
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Hewitson TD, Zhao C, Wigg B, Lee SW, Simpson ER, Boon WC, Samuel CS. Relaxin and castration in male mice protect from, but testosterone exacerbates, age-related cardiac and renal fibrosis, whereas estrogens are an independent determinant of organ size. Endocrinology 2012; 153:188-99. [PMID: 22028442 DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-1311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study determined the effects of castration and hormone replacement therapy on the age-related cardiac and renal pathology of male relaxin gene-knockout (RlnKO) and age-matched wild-type (RlnWT) mice and that of aged male aromatase knockout (ArKO) mice, which lack estrogens and have 5-10 times the androgen levels of male wild-type mice. One-month-old RlnWT and RlnKO mice were bilaterally gonadectomized or sham operated and maintained until 12 months. Subgroups of castrated animals received testosterone or 17β-estradiol treatment from 9 to 12 months. Male ArKO mice and aromatase wild-type mice were aged to 12 months. Collected heart and kidney tissues were assessed for changes in organ size and fibrosis. Castration reduced body, heart, left ventricle, and kidney weights in both RlnKO and RlnWT mice, and the cardiac/renal fibrosis that was seen in sham RlnKO animals (all P < 0.05 vs. respective sham). Testosterone normalized organ weights and organ weight to body weight ratio of castrated animals and increased cardiac/renal collagen concentration to levels measured in or beyond that of sham RlnKO mice (all P < 0.05 vs. respective castrated mice). Furthermore, expression of TGF-β1, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (Smad2), and myofibroblast differentiation paralleled the above changes (all P < 0.05 vs. respective castrated mice), whereas matrix metalloproteinase-13 was decreased in testosterone-treated RlnKO mice. Conversely, 17β-estradiol only restored changes in organ size. Consistent with these findings, intact ArKO mice demonstrated increased cardiac/renal fibrosis in the absence of changes in organ size. These findings suggest that relaxin and castration protect, whereas androgens exacerbate, cardiac and renal fibrosis during ageing, whereas estrogens, in synergy with relaxin, regulates age-related changes in organ size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim D Hewitson
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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