松弛素在心血管疾病中的作用及临床治疗展望

简要介绍松弛素家族的成员、受体及其相关信号通路,重点回顾松弛素在心血管系统中的作用特别是其抗纤维化作用。心脏和血管是松弛素的靶器官。在临床和实验研究中,观察到松驰素在心脏病中表达上调,对机体的血流动力学和心肌肥大具有调节作用;松弛素对心肌具有一定的保护作用并可能参与心肌修复和再生,逆转心脏纤维化。进一步的研究将着重于阐明松弛素作用的确切机制,并将动物模型的研究成果应用于临床血管病的治疗。

Role of relaxin in heart disease and therapeutic potential

Following a brief introduction of relaxin family members, receptors and related signalling pathways,we review effects of relaxin on cardiovascular system,particularly,its anti-fibrotic action.The heart and vessels are target organs of relaxin.Recent studies have documented that the relaxin genes are upregulated in the diseased heart of humans and experimental animals.In several animal disease models,relaxin can reverse cardiac fibrosis.Relaxin may also indirectly promote myocardial regeneration and repair by suppressing fibrotic healing.Further research needs to focus on elucidating the exact mechanisms utilized by relaxin to induce these cardiac actions and translation of experimental findings to novel therapy of cardiovascular disease.