ROCK1 induces ERK nuclear translocation in PDGF-BB-stimulated migration of rat vascular smooth muscle cells.
It has been known that Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signaling regulates the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the isoform-specific roles of ROCK and its underlying mechanism in VSMC migration are not well understood. The current study thus aimed to investigate the roles of ROCK1/2 and their relationship to the MAPK signaling pathway in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced rat aorta VSMC migration by manipulating ROCK gene expression. The results revealed that ROCK1 small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) rather than ROCK2 siRNA decreased PDGF-BB-generated VSMC migration, and upregulation of ROCK1 expression via transfection of constructed pEGFP-C1/ROCK1 plasmid further increased the migration of PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs. In PDGF-treated VSMCs, ROCK1 siRNA did not affect the phosphorylation levels of ERK and p38 in the cytoplasm, but decreased the level of ERK phosphorylation in the nucleus. These findings demonstrate that activated ROCK1 can promote VSMC migration through facilitating phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of ERK protein.
Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Ying
Y
Zhao
Miao
M
Lv
HaiShuang
H
Lin
Yan
Y
Hong
FuChun
F
Yang
YunLiang
Y
Sun
Yan
Y
Guo
Ying
Y
Cui
Sheng
S
Li
Ying
Y
Gao
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D000077214:Becaplermin; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D000077214:Becaplermin; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases