体外肿瘤微血管生成模型的建立

本研究以体外微血管培养模型为基础,用鼠尾胶原包埋大鼠动脉环,并将包埋的动脉环转移到种有人肺癌A549细胞单层的培养皿中,用MCDB 131无血清培养液对动脉环和肿瘤细胞进行共培养,从而建立肿瘤微血管体外生成模型。大鼠动脉环于培养后第3天从血管壁长出微血管芽,第6至10天长成微血管丛,两周后新生微血管开始萎缩;没有肿瘤细胞刺激的条件下,大鼠动脉环新生微血管数量明显减少。结果表明人肺癌A549细胞能够促进血管生成。体外大鼠动脉环肿瘤微血管培养模型操作简单、灵敏度高,适合研究肿瘤血管新生及其机制。     

利多卡因调节RhoA/ROCK轴对结直肠癌细胞生物学行为的影响

该文主要探讨利多卡因(lidocaine, Lido)通过调节Ras同源基因家族成员A(Rho A)/Rho相关的卷曲螺旋激酶(ROCK)轴对结直肠癌(CRC)细胞生物学行为的影响。该研究使用0～1 250μmol/L的利多卡因处理人结直肠癌细胞LS513, CCK-8法检测细胞活力筛选适宜药物浓度。将细胞分为对照组(Control组)、利多卡因低浓度组(Lido-L组, 500μmol/L Lido)、利多卡因中浓度组(Lido-M组, 750μmol/L Lido)、利多卡因高浓度组(Lido-H组, 1 000μmol/L Lido)和利多卡因高浓度+ROCK信号通路激活剂LPA组(Lido-H+LPA组, 1 000μmol/L Lido+10μmol/L LPA)。Edu检测细胞增殖;划痕愈合实验和Transwell小室实验分别检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力;流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况;Westernblot检测PCNA、Bax、Bcl-2、RhoA、ROCK1、E-cadherin和N-cadherin蛋白表达情况。该研究得出与0μmol/L利多卡因相比, 500μmol/L、75...     

共培养体系在牛核移植胚体外发育培养中的应用

采用电融合法构建牛体细胞核移植重构胚,分析共培养细胞类型、传代次数、细胞冻-融以及蛋白质添加物(BFF和FBS)对牛体细胞核移植胚体外发育的影响,探讨胚胎体外共培养的条件,以建立优化的共培养体系。结果表明与非共培养组相比,共培养组重构胚的囊胚发育率以及胚胎细胞数显著增加(P<0.05),而输卵管上皮细胞共培养组同颗粒细胞共培养组相比胚胎细胞数显著增加(P<0.05),更适合做共培养细胞;随着共培养细胞传代次数的增加重构胚囊胚发育率及胚胎细胞数显著下降(P<0.05),共培养细胞在冷冻处理后重构胚的囊胚率和胚胎细胞数都显著下降(P<0.05);BFF较FBS更能促进牛核移植胚的囊胚发育率(P<0.05)。表明应用新鲜原代输卵管上皮细胞进行牛核移植胚胎的共培养,并在SOFaa添加10?F能够有效促进核移植胚胎的体外发育。     

培养基中能量底物对猪胚胎发育的影响

旨在探讨丙酮酸和乳酸对猪(Susscrofa)胚胎早期发育的影响,将NCSU-23培养基中的5.56mmol/L葡萄糖替换为0.2mmol/L丙酮酸、5.7mmol/L乳酸,并将此培养基命名为mNCSU-23。根据实验设计,孤雌胚及核移植胚转移到mNCSU-23或NCSU-23中培养。激活第2天统计孤雌胚及核移植胚中的5～8细胞胚胎数。激活第6天统计孤雌胚及核移植胚囊胚形成率及囊胚细胞数。实验结果表明,mNCSU/NCSU处理组的5～8细胞胚胎数及囊胚数显著高于对照组(P0.05);单纯使用mNCSU培养猪胚胎时,囊胚率最低,发育结果最差(P0.05)。本研究证实,在体外培养前两天,用乳酸和丙酮酸代替培养基中的葡萄糖对胚胎发育有利。     

ERM蛋白在微血管内皮细胞通透性调控中的研究进展

埃兹蛋白(Ezrin)/根蛋白(Radixin)/膜突蛋白(Moesin)(ERM)是细胞膜与胞内骨架的连接蛋白,具有高度同源性。细胞外刺激因子可通过多种信号通路磷酸化ERM蛋白,使细胞骨架重构,从而调控微血管内皮细胞通透性,在感染、炎症、代谢异常等病理过程中发挥作用。ERM功能调节的一个重要环节就是其羧基末端苏氨酸残基磷酸化后引起ERM构象的改变,暴露的羧基末端尾部的肌动蛋白(actin)-细胞骨架结合位点;故通过ERM的桥接作用,可将肌动蛋白微丝与细胞膜相连,使血管内皮细胞屏障功能发生变化。目前已知能使ERM磷酸化的激酶有蛋白激酶C(PKC)、促分裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)、Rho相关激酶(ROCK),分别通过p38-MAPK、Rho/ROCK、PKC信号通路参与微血管内皮屏障功能的调控。本文旨在阐述ERM及其相关信号通路在微血管内皮细胞通透性调控中发挥的作用。     

慢性低氧高二氧化碳肺动脉高压小鼠肺组织Rho激酶的表达变化

慢性低氧高二氧化碳性肺动脉高压严重威胁着国民身体健康,但其发病机制尚未完全阐明。该研究通过检测正常对照组和慢性低氧高二氧化碳组小鼠右心室肥厚指数(right ven-tricular hypertrophy index,RVHI)、管壁厚度占血管外径的百分比(vessel wall thickness/total vasculardiameter,WT%)和管壁面积占血管总面积的百分比(vessel wall area/total vascular area,WA%),RT-PCR检测肺组织中Rho激酶(ROCK1,ROCK2)基因的表达,Western blot检测肺组织中ROCK1、p-MYPT1(phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1)蛋白的表达,免疫组织化学法观察ROCK1的定位表达,探讨了Rho激酶在慢性低氧高二氧化碳性肺动脉高压形成中的作用。结果发现,慢性低氧高二氧化碳组小鼠RVHI、WT%、WA%值均显著升高(P<0.01),ROCK1、ROCK2基因表达明显增加(ROCK1 P<0.01,ROCK2 P<0.05),ROCK1、p-MYPT1蛋白表达显著增加(P<0.01),ROCK1蛋白表达于肺动脉、肺泡和支气管。以上结果提示,慢性低氧高二氧化碳条件下,小鼠肺组织中Rho激酶表达升高,可能参与了肺动脉高压的形成。     

Bcl—2反义硫代磷酸寡核苷酸对HL60细胞生长的影响

应用Bcl-2反义硫代磷酸寡核苷酸(ASPO)与HL60细胞共培养,旨在观察不同浓度ASPO对HL60细胞生长和克隆形成的影响。结果发现,与Bcl-2正义寡核苷酸(SPO)及空白组比较,不同浓度的ASPO(A5μmol/L,A10μmol/L,A20μmol/L)培养24小时即可降低HL60细胞生长数和CFU-HL60克隆形成率。并随浓度的增大而显著(P<0.01)。72小时以后,ASPO组则与SPO组和空白组无显著差别(P>0.05)。因此认为Bcl-2的ASPO具有抑制HL60细胞生长,并呈浓度依赖性和序列特异性。     

联合应用大鼠血管内皮细胞和胰岛培养对胰岛功能的影响

目的 探讨通过体外共培养胰岛和血管内皮细胞能否改善胰岛的功能.方法 SD 大鼠分离纯化出胰岛细胞,分为两组：A 组胰岛单纯培养组,B 组胰岛和内皮细胞共培养组.从大鼠的胸主动脉分离纯化出血管内皮细胞,胰岛分离纯化后通过AO/PI 染色和胰岛素释放实验来判断两组胰岛的活性.结果 共培养组胰岛在7 d 内维持正常的形态,90﹪的胰岛通过AO/PI 染色显示良好的活性;胰岛素释放实验显示第7 天（2.21 ± 0.21）和第14 天（2.53 ± 0.21）共培养组和单纯培养组（1.94 ± 0.15,1.71 ± 0.19）刺激指数差异有统计学意义（P 〈 0.05）.结论 应用大鼠血管内皮细胞和胰岛共培养能够改善胰岛的存活及分泌功能.     

miR-335靶向Rho相关卷曲螺旋形成蛋白激酶1对卵巢癌细胞增殖的影响

目的: 探讨miR-335 靶向Rho相关卷曲螺旋形成蛋白激酶1(rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1,ROCK1)对卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3增殖的调控作用。方法:(1)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3及人正常卵巢上皮细胞系IOSE80,采用RT-PCR检测各组细胞中miR-335表达;采用Western blot检测各组细胞中ROCK1蛋白表达;(2)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3,分别转染miR-335 mimic及mimic control,采用RT-PCR检测细胞中miR-335表达;(3)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3,将SKOV3荧光素酶报告载体与miR-335 mimic共转染,采用荧光素酶活性实验验证miR-335对SKOV3的靶向作用;(4)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3,分为3组,即SKOV3组(转染mimic control)、miR-335 mimic组(转染miR-335 mimic)及miR-335 mimic+ROCK1组(共转染miR-335 mimic+ROCK1),采用MTT法检测各组细胞增殖活性,采用Western blot检测各组细胞中ROCK1蛋白表达,采用RT-PCR检测细胞中Cyclin D1表达。结果: (1)RT-PCR结果显示,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中miR-335表达显著低于人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80(P < 0.05);Western blot结果显示,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中ROCK1蛋白表达显著高于人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80(P < 0.05);(2)RT-PCR结果显示,转染miR-335 mimic可使卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中miR-335表达上调,与转染mimic control相比较差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05);(3)双荧光素酶活性检测结果显示,miR-335 mimic可显著抑制野生型ROCK1-Wt报告载体的荧光素酶活性,但对突变型ROCK1-Mut报告载体的荧光素酶活性并无显著抑制作用;(4)转染miR-335mimic后,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3增殖活性及Cyclin D1表达较阴性对照组显著降低(P < 0.05);而转染miR-335 mimic+ROCK1后,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3增殖活性及Cyclin D1表达较单纯转染miR-335 mimic组显著提高(P < 0.05),但仍显著低于阴性对照组(P < 0.05)。Western blot检测结果显示,转染miR-335mimic后,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中ROCK1蛋白表达较阴性对照组显著降低(P < 0.05);而转染miR-335 mimic+ROCK1后,ROCK1蛋白表达较单纯转染miR-335mimic组显著增高(P < 0.05),且显著高于阴性对照组(P < 0.05)。结论: miR-335可通过靶向ROCK1抑制卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3增殖。     

人间充质干细胞对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响研究

目的通过构建间充质干细胞(MSC)与乳腺癌细胞间相互作用的共培养模型,探讨MSC对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响。方法用含荧光基因第三代自身失活慢病毒载体感染人类脐带分离提取的MSC和乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231、MCF-7,以单独培养的乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231和MCF-7分别设立对照,2种乳腺癌细胞分别与MSC共培养,检测乳腺癌细胞在MSC作用下增生能力的改变,流式细胞术检测共培养后细胞表面标记物表达。两组间比较采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,多重比较采用Dunnet-t检验。结果MSC在与乳腺癌细胞共培养过程中促进肿瘤细胞生长,第3天共培养组乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞数高于单独MDA-MB-231培养组[(5.50±0.71)×10^3个比(1.63±0.41)×10^3个],培养至第7天,两组间MDA-MB-231细胞数差异进一步增大[(81.25±7.40)×10^3个比(26.25±4.15)×10^3个],差异具有统计学意义(P均<0.001);共培养后MSC促进乳腺癌细胞表达干细胞特有标记物CD90,MCF-7从共培养第2天CD90表达率(1.38±0.30)﹪升高至第9天(92.45±2.04)﹪。在共培养中MSC围绕肿瘤细胞集落方式生长,在形态上变长,并发现一种新型混合细胞(hybrid融合细胞)同时表达绿色和红色荧光,且对化疗药物更敏感。结论MSC促进乳腺癌细胞的生长,伴随MSC形态学改变和hybrid融合细胞出现,乳腺癌细胞获得MSC特有CD90表达。     

Endothelium-dependent relaxation by cilostazol, a phosphodiesteras III inhibitor, on rat thoracic aorta

The relaxation effect of cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, on the thoracic aorta was investigated. Cilostazol induced the relaxation of the thoracic aorta precontracted by phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration-dependent relaxation was shifted to the right in the endothelium denuded aorta compared with that of intact endothelium, suggesting that this relaxation was partly dependent on endothelium. Cilostazol-induced relaxation of thoracic aorta tone was reversed by treatment with N(G)-nitro L-arginine (L-NNA), a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Cilostazol also significantly increased the NO level in the porcine thoracic aorta. In rats treated with cilostazol, the urinary excretion of nitrites, a stable metabolite of NO, and basal production of NO of the aortic ring were significantly greater than in those without treatment. These findings indicate that cilostazol-induced vasodilation of the rat thoracic aorta was dependent on the endothelium, which released NO from aortic endothelial cells.     

大鼠主动脉内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞的原代培养及生物学特性比较

目的培养大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞,细胞纯化与鉴定,比较生物学特性的差异。方法采用血管环贴壁法培养动脉内皮细胞,组织块贴壁法培养动脉平滑肌细胞,并采用有限稀释法挑选内皮细胞单克隆,免疫细胞荧光鉴定二者的特异性标志,相差显微镜观察二者单个细胞及细胞群体在形态上的差异性,CCK-8试剂盒检测细胞的增殖,比较二者对胰酶消化,粘附,冻存后复苏的情况。结果血管环贴壁法成功培养血管内皮细胞,组织块培养法成功培养出血管平滑肌细胞,内皮细胞能够形成单克隆集落,培养的细胞均表达相应的特异性标志,内皮细胞增殖速度和平滑肌细胞有差异,内皮细胞对胰酶的耐受性较差,内皮细胞粘附所需时间短,对冻存后的耐受性较好。结论组织块贴壁法适合内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞的培养,有限稀释法能够纯化原代培养的内皮细胞,大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞在细胞形态、增殖、粘附、对胰酶的反应、冻存后复苏均存在差异。     

Rho kinase regulation of vasopressin-induced calcium entry in vascular smooth muscle cell: Comparison between rat isolated aorta and cultured aortic cells

In addition to its role in artery contraction, Rho kinase (ROCK) is reported to be involved in the Ca²⁺ response to vasoconstrictor agonist in rat aorta. However the signaling pathway mediated by ROCK had not been investigated so far and it was not known whether ROCK also contributed to Ca²⁺ signaling in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), which undergo profound phenotypic changes. Our results showed that in VSMC, ROCK inhibition by Y-27632 or H-1152 had no effect on the Ca²⁺ response to vasopressin, while in aorta the vasopressin-induced Ca²⁺ entry was significantly decreased. The inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) by ML-7 depressed the vasopressin-induced Ca²⁺ signal in aorta but not in VSMC. The difference in ROCK sensitivity of vasopressin-induced Ca²⁺ entry between aorta and VSMC was not related to an alteration of the RhoA/ROCK pathway. However, MLCK expression and activity were depressed in cultured cells compared to aorta. We concluded that the regulation of vasopressin-induced Ca²⁺ entry by ROCK in aorta could involve the myosin cytoskeleton and could be prevented by the downregulation of MLCK in VSMC. These results underline the important differences in Ca²⁺ regulation between whole tissue and cultured cells.     

ROCK Inhibitor Enhances Adhesion and Wound Healing of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells

Maintenance of corneal transparency is crucial for vision and depends mainly on the endothelium, a non-proliferative monolayer of cells covering the inner part of the cornea. When endothelial cell density falls below a critical threshold, the barrier and “pump” functions of the endothelium are compromised which results in corneal oedema and loss of visual acuity. The conventional treatment for such severe disorder is corneal graft. Unfortunately, there is a worldwide shortage of donor corneas, necessitating amelioration of tissue survival and storage after harvesting. Recently it was reported that the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 promotes adhesion, inhibits apoptosis, increases the number of proliferating monkey corneal endothelial cells in vitro and enhance corneal endothelial wound healing both in vitro and in vivo in animal models. Using organ culture human cornea (N = 34), the effect of ROCK inhibitor was evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. Toxicity, corneal endothelial cell density, cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell morphometry, adhesion and wound healing process were evaluated by live/dead assay standard cell counting method, EdU labelling, Ki67, Caspase3, Zo-1 and Actin immunostaining. We demonstrated for the first time in human corneal endothelial cells ex vivo and in vitro, that ROCK inhibitor did not induce any toxicity effect and did not alter cell viability. ROCK inhibitor treatment did not induce human corneal endothelial cells proliferation. However, ROCK inhibitor significantly enhanced adhesion and wound healing. The present study shows that the selective ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 has no effect on human corneal endothelial cells proliferative capacities, but alters cellular behaviours. It induces changes in cell shape, increases cell adhesion and enhances wound healing ex vivo and in vitro. Its absence of toxicity, as demonstrated herein, is relevant for its use in human therapy.     

RhoA GTPase regulates radiation-induced alterations in endothelial cell adhesion and migration

Endothelial cells of the microvasculature are major target of ionizing radiation, responsible of the radiation-induced vascular early dysfunctions. Molecular signaling pathways involved in endothelial responses to ionizing radiation, despite being increasingly investigated, still need precise characterization. Small GTPase RhoA and its effector ROCK are crucial signaling molecules involved in many endothelial cellular functions. Recent studies identified implication of RhoA/ROCK in radiation-induced increase in endothelial permeability but other endothelial functions altered by radiation might also require RhoA proteins. Human microvascular endothelial cells HMEC-1, either treated with Y-27632 (inhibitor of ROCK) or invalidated for RhoA by RNA interference were exposed to 15 Gy. We showed a rapid radiation-induced activation of RhoA, leading to a deep reorganisation of actin cytoskeleton with rapid formation of stress fibers. Endothelial early apoptosis induced by ionizing radiation was not affected by Y-27632 pre-treatment or RhoA depletion. Endothelial adhesion to fibronectin and formation of focal adhesions increased in response to radiation in a RhoA/ROCK-dependent manner. Consistent with its pro-adhesive role, ionizing radiation also decreased endothelial cells migration and RhoA was required for this inhibition. These results highlight the role of RhoA GTPase in ionizing radiation-induced deregulation of essential endothelial functions linked to actin cytoskeleton.     

ROCK1 induces ERK nuclear translocation in PDGF-BB-stimulated migration of rat vascular smooth muscle cells

It has been known that Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signaling regulates the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the isoform-specific roles of ROCK and its underlying mechanism in VSMC migration are not well understood. The current study thus aimed to investigate the roles of ROCK1/2 and their relationship to the MAPK signaling pathway in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced rat aorta VSMC migration by manipulating ROCK gene expression. The results revealed that ROCK1 small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) rather than ROCK2 siRNA decreased PDGF-BB-generated VSMC migration, and upregulation of ROCK1 expression via transfection of constructed pEGFP-C1/ROCK1 plasmid further increased the migration of PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs. In PDGF-treated VSMCs, ROCK1 siRNA did not affect the phosphorylation levels of ERK and p38 in the cytoplasm, but decreased the level of ERK phosphorylation in the nucleus. These findings demonstrate that activated ROCK1 can promote VSMC migration through facilitating phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of ERK protein.     

Claudin-5 participates in the regulation of endothelial cell motility

A key step in metastasis is the interaction and penetration of the vascular endothelium by cancer cells. Tight Junctions (TJ) are located between the cancer epithelial cells and between the endothelial cells functioning in an adhesive manner. They represent a critical barrier which the cancer cells must overcome in order to penetrate and initiate metastasis. Claudin-5 is a protein member of the Claudin family, a group of TJ proteins expressed in both endothelial and epithelial cells. This study examined in vitro the effect of altering levels of expression of Claudin-5 in HECV cells. Insertion of Claudin-5 gene in HECV cells resulted in cells that were significantly less motile and less adhesive to matrix (P < 0.001). These cells also exhibited a significant decreased in the angiogenic potential (P < 0.001). Results also revealed a link between Claudin-5 and cell motility. Furthermore, a possible link between Claudin-5 and N-WASP, and Claudin-5 and ROCK was demonstrated when interactions between these proteins were seen in the cell line. Moreover, followed by treatment of N-WASP inhibitor (Wiskostatin) and ROCK inhibitor (Y-27632), cell motility and angiogenic potential were assessed in response to the inhibitors. Results showed that the knockdown of Claudin-5 in HECV cells masked their response to both N-WASP and ROCK inhibitors. In conclusion, this study portrays a new and interesting role for Claudin-5 in cell motility involving the N-WASP and ROCK signalling cascade which is beyond the primarily role of Claudin-5 in keeping the cell barrier tight as it was originally reported.     

Comparison of expression of cathepsins B and L and MMP2 in endothelial cells and in capillary sprouting in collagen gel

The lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L are known to play an important role in the invasive growth of tumor cells, but their association with angiogenesis has been less well studied. The aim of this study was to determine the possible role of endothelial cell-associated cathepsins B and L in induced capillary growth in the aorta ring model of angiogenesis. Specific inhibitors of cysteine proteinases did not inhibit capillary growth in aorta ring culture and only slightly inhibited the degradation of surrounding collagen. In contrast, strong inhibition of both processes by the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor BB-94 was observed, indicating the importance of endogenous MMP production in angiogenesis. In support of this finding, we demonstrated a significant increase in endogenous endothelial mRNA of MMP2, but not of cathepsins B and L, in proliferating primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-d) in culture. However, MMP2 mRNA expression was increased only when the cells were embedded in collagen but not when they were grown on plastic, regardless of the addition of the growth factors VEGF or bFGF. Moreover, on plastic the impairment of MMP2 induction by growth factors was observed. The differential effect of growth factors implies the crosstalk with integrin signaling as a consequence of binding to the different matrix. This study suggests that endothelial cell-associated cathepsins B and L are not involved in the invasive growth of capillaries from existing blood vessels and that the presence of collagen is necessary for MMP2 expression in endothelial cells.     

Involvement of Rho/ROCK signalling in small cell lung cancer migration through human brain microvascular endothelial cells

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells migration across human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) is an essential step of brain metastases. Here we investigated signalling pathways in HBMECs contributing to the process. Inhibition of endothelial Rho kinase (ROCK) with Y27632 and overexpression of ROCK dominant-negative mutant prevented SCLC cells, NCI-H209, transendothelial migration and the concomitant changes of tight junction. Conversely, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase C (PKC) had no effects. Furthermore, endothelial RhoA protein was activated during NCI-H209 cells transendothelial migration. Rho/ROCK participated in NCI-H209 cells transendothelial migration through regulating actin cytoskeleton reorganization. These results suggested that Rho/ROCK was required for SCLC cells transendothelial migration.     

Involvement of ROCK-mediated endothelial tension development in neutrophil-stimulated microvascular leakage

Neutrophil-induced coronary microvascular barrier dysfunction is an important pathophysiological event in heart disease. Currently, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms of neutrophil-induced microvascular leakage are not clear. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that rho kinase (ROCK) increases coronary venular permeability in association with elevated endothelial tension. We assessed permeability to albumin (P(a)) in isolated porcine coronary venules and in coronary venular endothelial cell (CVEC) monolayers. Endothelial barrier function was also evaluated by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) of CVEC monolayers. In parallel, we measured isometric tension of CVECs grown on collagen gels. Transference of constitutively active (ca)-ROCK protein into isolated coronary venules or CVEC monolayers caused a significant increase in P(a) and decreased TER in CVECs. The ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 blocked the ca-ROCK-induced changes. C5a-activated neutrophils (10(6)/ml) also significantly elevated venular P(a), which was dose-dependently inhibited by Y-27632 and a structurally distinct ROCK inhibitor, H-1152. In CVEC monolayers, activated neutrophils increased permeability with a concomitant elevation in isometric tension, both of which were inhibited by Y-27632 or H-1152. Treatment with ca-ROCK also significantly increased CVEC monolayer permeability and isometric tension, coupled with actin polymerization and elevated phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain on Thr18/Ser19. The data suggest that during neutrophil activation, ROCK promotes microvascular leakage in association with actin-myosin-mediated tension development in endothelial cells.