A novel role for relaxin-2 in the pathogenesis of primary varicosis
Background Varicose veins affect up to 40% of men and up to 51% of women. The pathophysiology of primary varicosis is poorly understood. Theories ranging from incompetence of the venous valves to structural changes in the vein wall have been proposed. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed the f...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
June 21, 2012
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| In: |
PLOS ONE
Year: 2012, Volume: 7, Issue: 6 |
| ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0039021 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0039021 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039021 
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| Author Notes: | Julia Adams, Sarah Schott, Arno Bern, Matthias Renz, Kristian Ikenberg, Claus Garbe, Christian Busch |
| Summary: | Background Varicose veins affect up to 40% of men and up to 51% of women. The pathophysiology of primary varicosis is poorly understood. Theories ranging from incompetence of the venous valves to structural changes in the vein wall have been proposed. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed the functional state of the intramural smooth muscle cells (n = 14 pairs matched for age and gender) and the expression of relaxin-2 and its receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 in samples of varicose and healthy great saphenous veins (GSV) (n = 21 healthy GSV; n = 46 varicose GSV). Relaxin-2 and RXFP1 contents were determined in tissue samples (n = 9 samples per group). Pharmacological analyses were performed in a perfusion chamber. Morphometric determination of the nuclear size of the smooth muscle compartment yielded no significant difference in varicose GSV in comparison with the healthy controls. Relaxin-2 and its receptors were expressed in the muscular layer, endothelial cells and in blood vessels contained in the vein wall. Immunohistochemical expression of relaxin-2, RXFP1 and RXFP2 was significantly decreased in varicose GSV. Relaxin-2 and RXFP1 measured by ELISA and Western Blot were decreased in varicose GSV (relaxin-2 ELISA healthy vs. varicose GSV: 12.49±0.66 pg/mg versus 9.12±3.39 pg/mg of total protein; p = 0.01; Student's T-test). Contractions of vein samples induced by cholinergic or adrenergic stimulation were antagonized by relaxin-2. Conclusions/Significance We report that relaxin-2 and its receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 are expressed in GSV and that their expression is significantly decreased in varicose GSV. Further, we were able to demonstrate a functional pharmacological relaxin-2 system in varicose GSV. Our results suggest a novel role for relaxin-2 in the pathogenesis of primary varicosis, rendering relaxin-2 a novel possible pharmacological agent for the treatment of this widely prevailing venous disease. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 24.04.2018 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0039021 |