Serelaxin-mediated signal transduction in human vascular cells: Bell-shaped concentration-response curves reflect differential coupling to G proteins

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In a recently conducted phase III clinical trial, RELAX-AHF, serelaxin infusion over 48 h improved short- and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute heart failure. In this study we used human primary cells from the umbilical vasculature to better understand the signalling mechanisms activated by serelaxin. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We examined the acute effects of serelaxin on signal transduction mechanisms in primary human umbilical vascular cells and its chronic actions on markers of cardiovascular function and disease. KEY RESULTS: The RXFP1 receptor, the cognate serelaxin receptor, was expressed at the cell surface in HUVECs and human umbilical vein smoot..