The Relaxin-Like Factor Is a Hormone
- 1 January 1999
- journal article
- Published by Springer Nature in Endocrine
- Vol. 10 (2) , 167-170
- https://doi.org/10.1385/endo:10:2:167
Abstract
The relaxin-like factor (RLF) circulates in the blood-stream of humans, interacts with a membrane protein with all the characteristics of ligand-receptor binding, and must therefore be considered a hormone by definition. The polyclonal antibody raised against synthetic human RLF showed no crossreactivity to other structurally related hormones, like insulin and relaxin. The sensitivity of this assay (ED50 at 100 pM) allowed the direct measurement of RLF concentrations in serum. The highest levels were detected in the serum of postpuberty males (190 pM), whereas in females and children, the RLF concentration was one order of magnitude lower.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Relaxin-like factor: a highly specific and constitutive new marker for Leydig cells in the human testis.Molecular Human Reproduction, 1997
- Mouse Leydig insulin-like (Ley I-L) gene: Structure and expression during testis and ovary developmentMolecular Reproduction and Development, 1997
- Relaxin-Like Factor Gene is Highly Expressed in the Bovine Ovary of the Cycle and Pregnancy: Sequence and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Analysis1Biology of Reproduction, 1996
- Structure and expression of Leydig insulin-like peptide mRNA in the sheepMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 1996
- Molecular cloning and expression of the relaxin-like factor from the mouse testis.Endocrinology, 1996
- A Novel Leydig Cell cDNA-derived Protein Is a Relaxin-like FactorPublished by Elsevier ,1995
- The human Leydig insulin-like (hLEY I-L) gene is expressed in the corpus luteum and trophoblast.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1995
- Structural Organization of the Porcine and Human Genes Coding for a Leydig Cell-Specific Insulin-like Peptide (LEY I-L) and Chromosomal Localization of the Human Gene (INSL3)Genomics, 1994
- Total synthesis of human relaxin and human relaxin derivatives by solid-phase peptide synthesis and site-directed chain combinationJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1991
- Plasma Immunoreactive Relaxin Levels in Pregnant and Nonpregnant WomenJournal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1978