Research Progress of Relaxin in the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a pathological result of an imbalanced deposition of abnormal growth and decreased degradation of the extracellular matrix in the liver, which is a common response to the progression of multiple chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis. To date, no drug has been approved for clinical use against liver fibrosis. At present, fibrosis reversibility has been identified as one of the most important principles and targets of antifibrotic drugs. Relaxin therapy is valued for its ability to attenuate the fibrotic properties of activated hepatic stellate cells and reverse established fibrosis. This research is reviewed from the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, the current status of treatment, the overview of relaxin and its treatment mechanism to provide a basis and guidance for the further application of relaxin therapy.