Suowen Xu
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health,
Building 10, Room 5N316, MSC 1590, Bethesda, MD 20892-1590
Tanzania
Editorial
Rock the Rock of Atherosclerosis
Author(s): Suowen XuSuowen Xu
The Rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase (ROCK1 and ROCK2) were one of the downstream effectors of the small GTPase Rho. The Rho/ROCK pathway plays an important role in mediating multiple cellular processes, including endothelial dysfunction, the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells, foam cell formation, and arterial stiffness and aging, all of which are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Vascular cells (including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages) undergo pathophysiological changes through the ROCK signaling pathway and ROCK inhibitors are being developed as effective therapeutic agents for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not entirely clear how ROCK isoforms are regulated, and how both isoforms contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A recent article from Liao’s laboratory demon.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2329-6925.1000e101