Serelaxin: A Novel Therapeutic for Vascular Diseases

Chen Huei Leo, Maria Jelinic, Hooi Hooi Ng, Marianne Tare, Laura J Parry

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40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vascular dysfunction is an important hallmark of cardiovascular disease. It is characterized by increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictors, decreases in the endothelium-derived vasodilators nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2), and endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH). Serelaxin (recombinant human relaxin) has gained considerable attention as a new vasoactive drug, largely through its beneficial therapeutic effects in acute heart failure. In this review we first describe the contribution of endogenous relaxin to vascular homeostasis. We then provide a comprehensive overview of the novel mechanisms of serelaxin action in blood vessels that differentiate it from other vasodilator drugs and explain how this peptide could be used more widely as a therapeutic to alleviate vascular dysfunction in several cardiovascular diseases.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)498-507
Number of pages10
JournalTrends in Pharmacological Sciences
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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