Rho kinase and hypertension.
Arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease that is characterised by increased peripheral vascular resistance often accompanied by smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and proliferation. Rho kinases (ROCKs) are the most extensively studied effectors of the small G-protein RhoA and abnormalities in RhoA/ROCK signalling have been observed in various cardiovascular disease including hypertension. The RhoA/ROCK-pathway is a key player in different smooth muscle cell functions including contractility, proliferation and migration. Furthermore, there is extensive crosstalk between RhoA/ROCK- and NO-signalling. Therefore, not only ROCK inhibitors but also NO-donators or pleiotropic agents like statins exert their beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system at least in part via Rho/Rho-kinase.
Wirth
Angela
A
Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Dept. of Pharmacology, Ludwigstraße 43, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany. Angela.Wirth@pharma.uni-heidelberg.de
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
C066737:RHOA protein, human; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein