Abnormal activation of Rho/Rho-kinase signal pathways and cardiovascular diseases
Li Fang · Dalian Yike Daxue xuebao · 2012
Rho protein is a kind of small GTP binding protein.At present,we have separated 20 kinds of Rho protein family members from mammals.Rho kinases are major regulators of actin cytoskeletal organization and cell motility.The Rho/Rho-kinase signal pathway is a ubiquitous pathway in intracelluar signal transduction.With the changes of cell actin cytoskeleton,the Rho/Rho-kinase signal pathway coordinates diverse cellular functions,such as adhesion,contraction,migration,proliferation,apoptosis and gene expression.The abnormal activation of Rho/Rho-kinase signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease,which possibly makes Rho-kinase an important therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease.