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The Use of Relaxin Improves Healing in Injured Muscle
aGrowth and Development Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA bDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213, USA cDepartment of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
Address for correspondence: Dr. Johnny Huard, Growth and Development Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4100 Rangos Bldg., 3705 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Voice: 412-692-7807; fax: 412-692-7095. jhuard{at}pitt.edu
To improve the functional recovery of injured skeletal muscle, we have focused our efforts on both enhancement of muscle regeneration and prevention of fibrosis. The polypeptide cytokine/growth factor relaxin can inhibit fibrous tissue formation in many tissues. As a member of the insulin-like growth factor family, relaxin also is a potential stimulator of muscle regeneration. In the current experiment, we examined the antifibrotic effect of relaxin in injured skeletal muscle. We also investigated if the injection of relaxin would influence muscle regeneration after injury. Our results demonstrate that relaxin treatment improved histologic and physiologic healing of muscles subjected to traumatic injury.
Key Words: muscle healing • regeneration • fibrosis • relaxin This article has been cited by other articles:
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