Published online before print June 24, 2002, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000025630.05387.45
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(Circulation. 2002;106:292.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.
Brief Rapid Communications |
Is the Pregnancy Hormone Relaxin Also a Vasodilator Peptide Secreted by the Heart?
From the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics (C.F., A.S., J.M.) and the Division of Neuroscience and Biomedical Systems (M.M., I.M.), Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK; and the Vascular Assessment Group (F.J., C.H.), Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Correspondence to Professor J. McMurray, CRI in Heart Failure, Wolfson Building, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK. E-mail j.mcmurray{at}bio.gla.ac.uk
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Abstract |
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Background— It has been shown recently that the pregnancy and parturition hormone, relaxin, is secreted by the heart. This study examined the effects of relaxin in small human resistance arteries from the systemic and pulmonary circulations.
Methods and Results— Arteries were obtained from gluteal biopsies and resected lung tissue and studied with the use of wire myography. Cumulative concentration relaxation curves were constructed in systemic arteries with substance P, epoprostenol, atrial natriuretic peptide, and relaxin (concentration range 10-13 -10-7M). The maximal responses were 88(±5)%, 67(±10)%, 52(±16)% and 66(±16)%, respectively. Endothelium removal virtually abolished the action of relaxin. Relaxin had no vasodilator effect in pulmonary arteries.
Conclusions— Relaxin is a powerful dilator of systemic resistance arteries secreted by the heart that may contribute to cardiovascular regulation.
Key Words: vasodilation • arteries • endothelium • peptides
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Introduction |
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Relaxin, a hormone belonging to the insulin family and recently shown to act through 2 orphan G-protein receptors, has an established role in the female reproductive tract.1–3 Known sources of relaxin are the ovary, decidua, placenta, and the prostate.1 Three molecular forms of relaxin, H1 through H3, encoded for by separate genes, are found in humans.1–3 H2 is the main circulating form, whereas H1 is produced in the placenta.1 The source of H3 is uncertain.3 Until lately, relaxin has only been thought to prepare the birth canal and mammary gland for parturition.1 New evidence suggests that relaxin may be more than a pregnancy hormone.
Recently, relaxin mRNA expression has also been shown in the human left ventricle, atrium, internal mammary artery, and saphenous vein.4 Cardiac mRNA expression and secretion of relaxin are increased in chronic heart failure.4 Circulating concentrations of relaxin are also markedly elevated in heart failure, in proportion to clinical severity.4 Consequently, as with other peptides, such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac relaxin secretion may be a compensatory response in heart failure, and relaxin may be a circulating vasoactive hormone. This study evaluates the actions of relaxin in human systemic and pulmonary resistance arteries.
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Methods |
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Patients
Thirteen patients with coronary heart disease but normal left ventricular systolic function were studied. Lung tissue was obtained from an additional 5 patients undergoing pneumonectomy for cancer. The study had Ethics Committee approval, and patients gave informed consent.
Materials
Human recombinant H2 relaxin was a gift from by Connetics Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif. Experiments were performed in physiological salt solution with the following composition (mmol/L): NaCl 118.4, KCl 4.7, MgSO4II2O 1.2, KH2PO4 1.2, Na HCO3 24.9, CaCl2 2.5, glucose 11.1, EDTA 0.023 (which gives a pH of 7.4 when gassed with a 5% CO2/95% O2 mixture). A Mulvany-Halpern 4-channel wire myograph (Danish Myotech) was used.
Systemic Resistance Artery Studies
Gluteal Biopsy Procedure and Artery Preparation
Gluteal biopsies were obtained under local anesthesia (1% lidocaine), as previously described.5 Resistance arteries (diameter <300 µm, length 
2 mm) were dissected and mounted in the myograph as previously described.5,6 The bath was gassed and heated for the duration of the experiment.
Experimental Protocol (With Intact Endothelium)
After 30 minutes of rest, each artery was set to the normalized internal diameter at which contraction is thought to be optimal.5,6 The vessels were left for another hour and then repeatedly exposed to a high potassium salt solution until reproducible maximal contractions were achieved. Vessels were preconstricted with 10-5 norepinephrine and 10-6 ACh was added to test for endothelial integrity. Cumulative concentration response curves (CCRCs) were then constructed in vessels preconstricted with 10-5 mol/L norepinephrine using substance P, epoprostenol, ANP, and relaxin (concentration range 10-13 to 10-7 mol/L).
Procedure for Removal of Endothelium and Experimental Protocol in Deendothelialized Vessels
Endothelium was mechanically removed from another set of vessels by gently rubbing the luminal side of the arterial wall with a human hair (stored in ethanol and rinsed with physiological salt solution before use).6 Endothelial removal was confirmed by the lack of relaxation to ACh.6 A CCRC was then constructed with relaxin 10-13 to 10-7 mol/L.
Pulmonary Resistance Artery Studies
Artery Preparation
Lung tissue was placed in cold Krebs-buffer solution. Pulmonary resistance arteries (diameter <300 µm, length 2 mm) were dissected and mounted in the myograph as described previously.7
Experimental Protocol
Tension was applied to vessels to give transmural pressures equivalent to 12 to 16 mm Hg to simulate in vivo pressures. Vessels were allowed to equilibrate and endothelial integrity was tested, as described above. CCRC were then constructed with relaxin 10-15 to 10-7 mol/L, after preconstricting each vessel with U46619—a thromboxane A2 mimetic (norepinephrine does not induce sustained constriction of human pulmonary vessels).
Analysis of Data
Responses (mean±SEM) are expressed as % relaxation from maximally preconstricted levels.
Comparisons Between Relaxin and Other Vasodilators
Statistical comparison of maximum responses (within the concentration range tested) was performed with the use of unpaired Student’s t test and Dunnett’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons.5–7 Comparison of curves was by one-way ANOVA for repeated measures.5–7
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Results |
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Subjects
Tables 1 and 2 show the characteristics of the patients studied.
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Studies in Small Systemic Resistance Arteries With Intact Endothelium
Resistance Artery Diameter
The mean internal diameter of the systemic resistance arteries was 283±21 µm. ACh caused an 88±4% reduction in norepinephrine-induced tone, verifying the existence of an intact endothelium.
Response to Vasodilators
Figure 1 shows the vasodilator activity of substance P (n=8), epoprostenol (prostaglandin I2) (n=6), ANP (n=6), and relaxin (n=8).
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Substance P, as noted previously, was a powerful vasodilator. Relaxin had comparable activity to epoprostenol. ANP was the weakest of the vasodilators studied. The maximal responses were 88(±5)%, 66(±16)%, 67(±10)%, and 52(±16)%, respectively.
A 10% of maximal vasodilator response was achieved with 1x10-13 mol/L substance P, 2x10-13 mol/L epoprostenol, 1x 10-12 mol/L relaxin, and 3x10-10 mol/L ANP (P<0.05 for relaxin versus ANP).
Response to Relaxin in Systemic Resistance Arteries After Removal of Endothelium
Figure 2 shows that endothelial rubbing virtually abolished the action of relaxin (n=5, P<0.05).
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Response to Relaxin in Small Pulmonary Resistance Arteries
The mean internal diameter of the pulmonary vessels (n=5) was 208.8±10.6 µm. ACh caused a 76±21% reduction in agonist-induced tone, yet relaxin had no effect (data not shown).
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Discussion |
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Our findings show that relaxin is a more potent arterial vasodilator than ANP, also secreted by the heart. It had been suggested that relaxin might exert its systemic vasodilator effects by stimulating the secretion of ANP.8 However, our results show that relaxin is a vasodilator in its own right.
Furthermore, relaxin is vasoactive at concentrations comparable to those found in chronic heart failure. Mean plasma relaxin concentrations in patients with severe chronic heart failure average 2.5 to 3.34x10-11 mol/L.3 At 10-11 mol/L, relaxin caused 26% vasodilation of resistance arteries (versus 0.68% with the same concentration of ANP).
The potency of relaxin is impressive. It is equipotent to epoprostenol, a substance regarded as a powerful vasodilator and used therapeutically in cardiovascular disease.9 Of course, epoprostenol is a particularly effective pulmonary vasodilator, whereas relaxin seems to be devoid of this action.
We also found that relaxin-induced vasodilation is endothelium dependent. Removal of the endothelium almost abolished its effect. This is in keeping with observations in other species that relaxin may exert its vasodilator action through nitric oxide.1,10,11 However, other endothelial mediators may be involved, and whether or not this is the case in humans has yet to be determined.
Interestingly, relaxin does not seem to vasodilate all arteries. Human relaxin did not dilate human myometrial and uteroplacental arteries precontracted with norepinephrine, endothelin, or U46619.12 Similarly, porcine relaxin has no effect on human umbilical arteries precontracted with potassium chloride or serotonin.13 This suggests that relaxin does not act as a vasodilator in the placental-fetal circulation. We found that relaxin is inert in preconstricted human pulmonary resistance arteries, in contrast to systemic vessels. This may reflect differing relaxin-receptor distribution in the circulation, as the nitric oxide vasodilator pathway was functionally intact in these pulmonary vessels.2
Relaxin could have other potentially favorable vascular and nonvascular actions in cardiovascular disease. For example, it increases vascular endothelial growth factor,14 antagonizes the vasoconstrictor action of other peptides, such as angiotensin II,15 and inhibits collagen synthesis/increases collagen breakdown.16 The last action, key to the pelvic remodeling effect of relaxin, could also be important in cardiac and vascular remodeling. In addition, relaxin has also been reported to protect against experimental ischemia-reperfusion injury.1
Though the true vasoregulatory role of relaxin can only be assessed with the use of an antagonist, it does seem to be more potent than ANP, a hormone that circulates at a similar concentration and the inhibition of which leads to vasoconstriction and other potentially adverse cardiovascular effects.17
In summary, we have shown that relaxin, a hormone now known to be secreted by the heart, is a potent vasodilator of small systemic resistance arteries at pathophysiological concentrations, and that this action is endothelium dependent. Relaxin is not, however, a pulmonary vasodilator. The pleiotropic actions of relaxin suggest that its potential role in cardiovascular regulation merits further investigation.
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Acknowledgments |
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This study was supported by the British Heart Foundation.
Received May 7, 2002; accepted May 29, 2002.
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References |
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1. Bani D. Relaxin: a pleiotropic hormone. Gen Pharmacol. 1997; 28: 13–22.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
2. Bathgate RA, Samuel CS, Burazin TC, et al. Human relaxin gene 3 (H3) and the equivalent mouse relaxin (M3) gene: novel members of the relaxin peptide family. J Biol Chem. 2002; 277: 1148–1157.
3. Hsu SY, Nakabayashi K, Nishi S, et al. Activation of orphan receptors by the hormone relaxin. Science. 2002; 295: 671–674.
4. Dschietzig T, Richter C, Bartsch C, et al. The pregnancy hormone relaxin is a player in human heart failure. FASEB J. 2001; 15: 2187–2195.
5. Hillier C, Berry C, Petrie MC, et al. Effects of urotensin II in human arteries and veins of varying calibre. Circulation. 2001; 103: 1378–1381.
6. Jarajapu Y, Coats P, McGrath JC, et al. Increased 
1 and 2 adrenoceptor-mediated contractile responses in human skeletal muscle resistance arteries in chronic limb ischaemia. Cardiovasc Res. 2001; 49: 218–225.
7. Stirrat A, Gallagher M, Douglas SA, et al. Potent vasodilator responses to human urotensin-II in human pulmonary and abdominal resistance arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2001; 280: H925–H928.
8. Toth M, Taskinen P, Ruskoaho H. Relaxin stimulates atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in perfused rat heart. J Endocrinol. 1996; 150: 487–495.
9. Kieler-Jensen N, Lundin S, Ricksten SE. Vasodilator therapy after heart transplantation: effects of inhaled nitric oxide and intravenous prostacyclin, prostaglandin E1, and sodium nitroprusside. J Heart Lung Transplant. 1995; 14: 436–443.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
10. Bani D, Failli P, Bello MG, et al. Relaxin activates the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. Hypertension. 1998; 31: 1240–1247.
11. Danielson LA, Sherwood OD, Conrad KP. Relaxin is a potent renal vasodilator in conscious rats. J Clin Invest. 1999; 103: 525–533.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
12. Peterson LK, Svane D, Uldbjerg N, et al. Effects of human relaxin on isolated rat and human myometrium and uteroplacental arteries. Obstet Gynecol. 1991; 78: 757–762.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
13. Dombrowski MP, Savoy-Moore RT, Swartz K, et al. Effect of porcine relaxin on the human umbilical artery. J Reprod Med. 1986; 31: 467–472.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
14. Unemori EN, Erikson ME, Rocco SE, et al. Relaxin stimulates expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in normal human endometrial cells in vitro and is associated with menometrorrhagia in women. Hum Reprod. 1999; 14: 800–806.
15. Massicotte G, Parent A, St. Louis J. Blunted responses to vasoconstrictors in mesenteric vasculature but not in portal vein of spontaneously hypertensive rates treated with relaxin. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1989; 190: 254–259.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
16. Qin X, Chua PK, Ohira RH, et al. An autocrine/paracrine role of human decidual relaxin. II. Stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). Biol Reprod. 1997; 56: 812–820.[Abstract]
17. Drexler H, Hirth C, Stasch HP, et al. Vasodilatory action of endogenous atrial natriuretic factor in a rat model of chronic heart failure as determined by monoclonal ANF antibody. Circ Res. 1990; 66: 1371–1380.
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