Relaxin receptor deficiency promotes vascular inflammation and impairs outward remodeling in arteriovenous fistulas

The pathophysiology of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure is not completely understood but impaired outward remodeling (OR) and intimal hyperplasia are thought to be contributors. This adverse vascular response after AVF surgery results from interplay between vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammatory cells. Relaxin (RLN) is a hormone that acts on the vasculature via interaction with RLN/insulin-like peptide family receptor 1 (RXFP1), resulting in vasodilatation, ECM remodeling, and decreased inflammation. In the present study, we evaluated the consequences of RXFP1 knockout (Rxfp1^-/-) onAVFmaturation inamurinemodel ofAVFfailure. Rxfp1^-/-mice showed a22% decrease in vessel size at the venous outflow tract 14 d afterAVF surgery. Furthermore, a 43% increase in elastin contentwas observed in the lesions of Rxfp1^-/-mice and coincided with a 41%reduction in elastase activity. In addition, Rxfp1^-/- mice displayed a 6-fold increase in CD45⁺ leukocytes, along with a 2-fold increase in monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) levels, when compared with wild-type mice. In vitro, VSMCs from Rxfp1^-/- mice exhibited a synthetic phenotype, as illustrated by augmentation of collagen, fibronectin, TGF-b, and platelet-derived growth factor mRNA. In addition, VSMCs derived from Rxfp1^-/- mice showed a 5-fold increase in cell migration. Finally, RXFP1 and RLN expression levels were increased in human AVFs when compared with unoperated cephalic veins. In conclusion, RXFP1 deficiency hampers elastin degradation and results in induced vascular inflammation after AVF surgery. These processes impair OR in murine AVF, suggestingthat theRLNaxis couldbe apotential therapeutic target for promoting AVF maturation.