title: [Activation of Rho-kinase pathway is involved in angiotensin II-induced contraction of human airway smooth muscle cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate of the regulatory effect of Rho-kinase pathway activation on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced contraction of human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured primary HASMCs were divided into control group, AngII group, AngII + irbesartan group and AngII + Y-27632 group with corresponding treatment. AngII-induced contraction of HASMCs was evaluated using collagen gel lattices and observed morphologically using immunofluorescence assay. Western Blotting was significantly performed to examine the protein expression of Rho-kinase signal pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AngII-induced HASMC contraction was inhibited by treatments with irbesartan and Y-27632 as shown by gel contraction assay (P<0.001). Y-27632 treatment produced a stronger inhibitory effect than irbesartan on the expression of phosphorylated moesin, a substrate of Rho kinase (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AngII induces the contraction of HASMCs partially as a result of activation of Rho-kinase pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Yuan-xiong
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D000077405:Irbesartan; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; C108830:Y 27632; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D000077405:Irbesartan