title: Role of Rho kinase isoforms in murine allergic airway responses.
abstract: Inhibition of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinases (ROCKs) reduces allergic airway responses in mice. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of the two ROCK isoforms, ROCK1 and ROCK2, in these responses. Wildtype (WT) mice and heterozygous ROCK1 and ROCK2 knockout mice (ROCK1(+/-) and ROCK2(+/-), respectively) were sensitised and challenged with ovalbumin. ROCK expression and activation were assessed by western blotting. Airway responsiveness was measured by forced oscillation. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and the lungs were fixed for histological assessment. Compared with WT mice, ROCK1 and ROCK2 expression were 50% lower in lungs of ROCK1(+/-) and ROCK2(+/-) mice, respectively, without changes in the other isoform. In WT lungs, ROCK activation increased after ovalbumin challenge and was sustained for several hours. This activation was reduced in ROCK1(+/-) and ROCK2(+/-) lungs. Airway responsiveness was comparable in WT, ROCK1(+/-), and ROCK2(+/-) mice challenged with PBS. Ovalbumin challenge caused airway hyperresponsiveness in WT, but not ROCK1(+/-) or ROCK2(+/-) mice. Lavage eosinophils and goblet cell hyperplasia were significantly reduced in ovalbumin-challenged ROCK1(+/-) and ROCK2(+/-) versus WT mice. Ovalbumin-induced changes in lavage interleukin-13, interleukin-5 and lymphocytes were also reduced in ROCK1(+/-) mice. In conclusion, both ROCK1 and ROCK2 are important in regulating allergic airway responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-6021, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: P-Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Verbout
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Halayko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fedulov
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noma
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; C515854:Rock1 protein, mouse; C515855:Rock2 protein, mouse; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases