New Targets for Renal Interstitial Fibrosis: Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 1 - Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor Heterodimers

Recent findings have shown that relaxin has potent anti-fibrotic effects within the kidney; however, the signal transduction mechanisms involved in the renoprotective effects of relaxin are not well understood. Chow et al demonstrate that the relaxin receptor, RXFP1, forms heterodimer complexes with the angiotensin type 2 receptor, AT(2), even in the absence of ligand and that these heterodimer complexes are required for relaxin’s antifibrotic effects. These findings identify a previously unknown link between relaxin and angiotensin II signaling that could be a potential new target for slowing the progression of fibrotic renal diseases.