Metabolic actions of Rho-kinase in periphery and brain.
Obesity has increased at an alarming rate in recent years and is now a worldwide public health problem. Elucidating the mechanisms behind the metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity is of high priority. The metabolic function of Rho-kinase (Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing kinase; ROCK) has been the subject of a great deal of investigation in metabolic-related diseases. It appears that inhibition of ROCK activity is beneficial for the treatment of a wide range of cardiovascular-related diseases. However, recent studies with genetic models of ROCK demonstrate that ROCK plays a positive role in insulin and leptin signaling. Here we discuss the newly identified functions of ROCK in regulating glucose and energy metabolism, with particular emphasis on metabolic actions of insulin and leptin.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Hu
H
Huang
Dae-Ho
DH
Lee
Janice M
JM
Zabolotny
Young-Bum
YB
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
Rho-kinase; energy homeostasis; glucose metabolism; insulin action; leptin action