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Review
. 2013 Nov;394(11):1399-410.
doi: 10.1515/hsz-2013-0181.

Rho-kinase: regulation, (dys)function, and inhibition

Ehsan Amin, Badri Nath Dubey, Si-Cai Zhang, Lothar Gremer, Radovan Dvorsky, Jens M Moll, Mohamed S Taha, Luitgard Nagel-Steger, Roland P Piekorz, Avril V Somlyo, Mohammad R Ahmadian
Review

Rho-kinase: regulation, (dys)function, and inhibition

Ehsan Amin et al. Biol Chem. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

In a variety of normal and pathological cell types, Rho-kinases I and II (ROCKI/II) play a pivotal role in the organization of the nonmuscle and smooth muscle cytoskeleton and adhesion plaques as well as in the regulation of transcription factors. Thus, ROCKI/II activity regulates cellular contraction, motility, morphology, polarity, cell division, and gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of the Rho-ROCK pathways at different stages is linked to cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancer. This review focuses on the current status of understanding the multiple functions of Rho-ROCK signaling pathways and various modes of regulation of Rho-ROCK activity, thereby orchestrating a concerted functional response.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Regulation, functions, and inhibition of the Rho-ROCK-controlled cellular processes
Broad ranges of ROCK substrates are responsible for diverse cellular functions, which are controlled both positively and negatively by multiple mechanisms. As indicated, statin, GGTI, and FTI treatments as therapeutic strategies abrogate membrane localization of various proteins, including Rho, Rac, Ras, Rnd, and Gγ subunit, and thus interfere with the Rho-ROCK signaling in various types of cells and diseases. Solid arrows are known direct signal cascades, whereas dashed line arrows indicate the putative ones.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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