Relaxin is a peptide hormone weighing approximately 6,500 Da and is structurally related to the insulin hormone family. It is best known for its role in reproductive physiology, particularly in the relaxation of smooth musculature during ovulation and pregnancy. Elevated levels of relaxin during these phases have long linked it to gynecological function, including uterine and pelvic softening, cervical ripening, and facilitating childbirth. However, emerging research highlights a broader systemic impact of relaxin beyond reproduction.
In both research and clinical settings, relaxin is increasingly recognized for its cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory roles. It induces vasodilation in organs such as the heart, lungs, uterus, and mammary glands, exerts a chronotropic effect on heart rate, and inhibits endothelin-1, a key vasoconstrictor in heart failure. Furthermore, relaxin can suppress histamine release from mast cells, attenuating allergic responses such as asthma, reduce platelet aggregation, and modulate pituitary hormone secretion. These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications in cardiovascular disease, asthma, and immune-related disorders.
Relaxin acts through specific G protein-coupled receptors (LGR7 and LGR8) located in tissues including the brain, uterus, and heart. Its activity as a glucocorticoid receptor agonist and its ability to counteract oxidative stress have also been documented. In experimental models, relaxin has been shown to protect cardiac tissue from ischemia/reperfusion injury, reducing markers like malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase. Clinically, relaxin has even emerged as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease on chronic hemodialysis, underscoring its potential value as a biomarker for prognosis and systemic health assessment.
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