Relaxin: A missing link in the pathomechanisms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease which predominantly affects women of reproductive age. Despite significant progress in recent years to elucidate many potential mechanisms involved in the generation of autoimmunity the factors behind the high incidence among women, the relapsing–remitting clinical course and pregnancy-related complications in SLE remain unclear. In this review, we hypothesize a potential role for uterine endometrium through its production of relaxin, a peptide hormone, as a “missing-link” to explain this female predominance, variable clinical course and obstetric complications operating in SLE.

Keywords:

• Autoimmunity
• Endometrium
• Macrophages
• Relaxin
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Acknowledgements

Authors are immensely grateful to Dr Ian Giles, University College London for his guidance and insights.

Conflict of interest

None.