Journal article
The anti-fibrotic hormone relaxin is not reno-protective, despite being active, in an experimental model of type 1 diabetes
SE Wong, CS Samuel, DJ Kelly, Y Zhang, GJ Becker, TD Hewitson
Protein and Peptide Letters | BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD | Published : 2013
Abstract
The end-point of diabetic renal disease is the accumulation of excess collagen (fibrosis/sclerosis). A number of studies have shown that the hormone relaxin (RLX) ameliorates progression of renal and non-renal fibrosis. This study assessed the anti-fibrotic potential of RLX in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated transgenic mRen-2 rats, an accelerated model of type 1 diabetes. Eight-week old hyperglycaemic (STZ-treated at week-6) and normoglycaemic (STZ-untreated) animals were treated with or without recombinant human gene-2 (H2) RLX for 4-weeks (by osmotic mini-pumps) and assessed for various parameters at 12-weeks of age. Hyperglycaemic mRen-2 rats had elevated kidney weight/body weight ratio, glo..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Ms Mariana Pacheco, Ms Belinda Wigg and Ms Chongxin Zhao for technical assistance; A/Prof Ross Bathgate for designing the RXFP1 (PCR) primers used; Prof. Richard Ivell for providing the RXFP1 (L7-2) antibody; and Corthera Inc (San Mateo, CA) for generously providing the rH2-RLX used in these studies. This study was supported by Project Grant funding from the Diabetes Australia Research Trust (DART), National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), and a National Heart Foundation of Australia/NHMRC R. D. Wright Fellowship to Chrishan S. Samuel.