title: Regulator of G Protein Signaling 2: A Versatile Regulator of Vascular Function.
abstract: Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins of the B/R4 family are widely expressed in the cardiovascular system where their role in fine-tuning G protein signaling is critical to maintaining homeostasis. Among members of this family, RGS2 and RGS5 have been shown to play key roles in cardiac and smooth muscle function by tightly regulating signaling pathways that are activated through Gq/11 and Gi/o classes of heterotrimeric G proteins. This chapter reviews accumulating evidence supporting a key role for RGS2 in vascular function and the implication of changes in RGS2 function and/or expression in the pathogenesis of blood pressure disorders, particularly hypertension. With such understanding, RGS2 and the signaling pathways it controls may emerge as novel targets for developing next-generation antihypertensive drugs/agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: patrick.osei-owusu@drexelmed.edu.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osei-Owusu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Kendall J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Blumer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D020710:RGS Proteins
keywords: Endothelium; G protein signaling; RGS2; Smooth muscle; Vascular function; Vasoactive hormones