脑梗塞大鼠脑组织中Rho激酶活性变化及其临床意义

目的:探讨脑梗塞过程中大脑组织中的Rho激酶活性变化,揭示其潜在的临床价值。方法:大鼠左侧颈内动脉内注射月桂酸钠,诱导同侧脑半球发生脑梗塞,建立大鼠脑梗塞模型。在注射月桂酸钠前及注射后0.5h,3h及6h四个时间点上各处死大鼠6只,取双侧大脑实质组织,用于组织匀浆提取蛋白,通过ELISA法检测大鼠大脑实质组织中Rho激酶的活性。另取6h组大鼠的大脑组织用免疫荧光染色法检测Rho激酶底物-MBS的磷酸化情况。结果:在注射月桂酸钠之后3h及6h,同侧大脑实质(即梗塞侧)内的Rho激酶活性明显高于对侧正常脑实质内的Rho激酶活性(P0.05),但在注射后0.5h内,双侧的Rho激酶活性无明显差异。结论:在大鼠脑梗塞模型中,大脑神经元内的Rho激酶活性能明显被活化,提示Rho激酶可能成为脑梗塞治疗的一个重要靶标。     

RhoA-Rho激酶信号转导通路参与TGF-β1诱导的血管外膜成纤维细胞表型转化为肌成纤维细胞(英文)

血管外膜成纤维细胞表型转化为肌成纤维细胞是血管重塑的重要病理特征。本研究旨在探讨小分子G蛋白RhoA及其下游Rho激酶信号通路在转化生长因子β1(transforming growth factor β1,TGF-β1)诱导的血管外膜成纤维细胞/肌成纤维细胞表型转化中的作用。用10ng/mLTGF-β1诱导体外培养的大鼠胸主动脉外膜成纤维细胞表型转化为肌成纤维细胞,使用亲和沉淀法检测RhoA活性、使用免疫印迹检测RhoA、Rho激酶蛋白表达和Rho激酶活性;使用免疫印迹和免疫细胞化学检测肌成纤维细胞标记蛋白的表达。结果显示,TGF-β1上调体外培养的血管外膜成纤维细胞RhoA蛋白表达和RhoA活性。TGF-β1增加Rho激酶下游底物肌球蛋白磷酸酶目标亚单位的磷酸化,但不改变Rho激酶的蛋白表达,提示TGF-β1增加Rho激酶活性。腺病毒Ad-N19RhoA-hrGFP感染和Rho激酶特异性抑制剂Y27632都呈剂量依赖性地抑制TGF-β1诱导的肌成纤维细胞标记分子α平滑肌肌动蛋白和钙结合蛋白Calponin的蛋白表达。本研究证明RhoA-Rho激酶信号通路参与了TGF-β1诱导的血管外膜成纤维细胞/肌成纤维细胞表型转化。     

Rho/ROCK信号通路与神经可塑性

在神经网络中,神经可塑性是大脑响应内在和外在刺激的重要特征。越来越多的研究已经阐明了神经可塑性与神经损伤性疾病之间的相关性。Rho/Rho相关卷曲螺旋形成蛋白激酶(Rho/Rho associ-ated coiledcoil forming protein kinase, Rho/ROCK)通路是生物体广泛存在的经典信号通路,参与细胞迁移、树突发育和轴突延伸,并且与帕金森、精神发育迟滞和阿尔茨海默症等多种神经退行性或损伤性疾病有关。本文对Rho/ROCK信号通路与神经可塑性的研究进展予以综述,讨论了ROCK抑制剂对各种神经疾病的潜在治疗前景。     

Rho小G蛋白相关激酶的结构与功能

Rho小G蛋白家族是Ras超家族成员之一,人类Rho小G蛋白包括20个成员,研究最清楚的有RhoA、Rac1和Cdc42。Rho小G蛋白参与了诸如细胞骨架调节、细胞移动、细胞增殖、细胞周期调控等重要的生物学过程。在这些生物学过程的调节中,Rho小G蛋白的下游效应蛋白质如蛋白激酶（p21-activated kinase,PAK）、ROCK（Rho-kinase）、PKN（protein kinase novel）和MRCK（myotonin-related Cdc42-binding kinase）发挥了不可或缺的作用。迄今研究发现,PAK可调节细胞骨架动力学和细胞运动,另外,PAK通过MAPK（mitogen-activated protein kinases）参与转录、细胞凋亡和幸存通路及细胞周期进程;ROCK与肌动蛋白应力纤维介导黏附复合物的形成及与细胞周期进程的调节有关;哺乳动物的PKN与RhoA/B/C相互作用介导细胞骨架调节;MRCK与细胞骨架重排、细胞核转动、微管组织中心再定位、细胞移动和癌细胞侵袭等有关。该文简要介绍Rho小G蛋白下游激酶PAK、ROCK、PKN和MRCK的结构及其在细胞骨架调节中的功能,重点总结它们在真核细胞周期调控中的作用,尤其是在癌细胞周期进程中所发挥的作用,为寻找癌症治疗的新靶点提供理论依据。     

法舒地尔对急性心肌梗死大鼠心肌组织中Rho激酶的影响及心肌保护作用(英文)

目的:分析急性心肌梗死(AMI)后大鼠心肌组织Rho激酶表达的变化及心肌细胞凋亡情况,观察法舒地尔对急性心肌梗死(AMI)后大鼠心肌组织Rho激酶表达的影响,探讨法舒地尔对心梗后心肌的保护作用。方法:选取雄性Wistar大鼠,随机分为三组:治疗组、AMI组、假手术组。治疗组及AMI组均结扎左前降支(LAD)制作AMI模型;假手术组只在其LAD下穿线不结扎。治疗组给予法舒地尔5mg/kg,腹腔注射,每日两次;对照组和假手术组给予等量生理盐水。1周后,EvensBlue及NBT双染色确定缺血面积及梗死面积,RT-PCR法测定rho激酶mRNA的表达,DNA断裂的原位末端标记法(T UNEL法)检测缺血区心肌细胞凋亡指数(AI),免疫组化测定凋亡相关蛋白bcl-2及bax表达的变化。结果:1周后,AMI组与假手术组相比,AMI组大鼠Rho激酶mRNA表达增加(P0.01),凋亡相关蛋白bax表达增加(P0.01),bcl-2表达减少(P0.01),AI明显增加(P0.01)。治疗组与AMI组相比,梗死面积显著减小(P0.05),Rho激酶mRNA及bax表达显著减少,AI显著降低,bcl-2表达显著增加(均P0.01)。结论:大鼠AMI后,心肌组织中Rho激酶的表达增加,心肌细胞凋亡指数增加,连续应用法舒地尔1周能有效减少心肌细胞凋亡指数,起到心肌保护的作用。     

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。     

Rho激酶对结直肠癌细胞体外侵袭转移作用的研究

目的:观察Rho激酶对结直肠癌SW480细胞黏附、运动、迁移和侵袭能力的影响.方法:SW480细胞用Rho激酶抑制剂Y-27632处理后,分别用细胞运动实验,黏附实验和迁移、侵袭实验分析对肿瘤细胞运动、黏附、迁移和侵袭能力的影响.结果:25μmol/L以上的浓度的Y-27632作用于SW480细胞后,细胞的运动能力、迁移能力明显下降(p＜0.05),细胞黏附于纤维粘连蛋白的能力也降低(p＜0.05);而且细胞穿过人工基底膜的能力明显降低(p＜0.01).结论:Rho激酶参与结直肠癌细胞体外的侵袭转移作用,Rho激酶抑制剂有望成为有效的抗恶性肿瘤转移的药物.     

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。     

苹果和葡萄果实蛋白激酶特性分析

以组蛋白Ⅲ S作苹果和葡萄果肉蛋白激酶制剂底物时 ,反应体系中加EGTA可抑制蛋白激酶活性 ,而加Ca2 可激活蛋白激酶的活性 ,表明苹果和葡萄果实中有依赖钙的蛋白激酶存在。而且 ,葡萄果实微粒体蛋白激酶呈热稳定性 ,苹果果实微粒体蛋白激酶对热敏感。以髓鞘碱性蛋白 (MBP)作底物 ,在苹果和葡萄果实微粒体中都检测出很高的蛋白激酶活性 ,并且不依赖于钙 ,说明苹果和葡萄果实中可能有分裂原激活的蛋白激酶 (MAP激酶 )的存在。苹果和葡萄果实MAP激酶的活性都表现出对二价阳离子Mg2 或Mn2 的依赖 ,并对高温处理表现出了激活效应     

Rho激酶抑制剂Y-27632促进大鼠成骨细胞早期分化

已知Rho激酶抑制剂可调控细胞骨架重建,激活相关转录因子,进而促进细胞分化。然而,关于Rho激酶抑制剂对细胞骨架和成骨细胞分化的影响及两者之间关系尚未见报道。本研究旨在阐明Rho激酶抑制剂Y 27632调控细胞骨架重建,促进成骨分化。取新生SD大鼠头盖骨组织体外培养细胞传至第3代,给予Rho激酶抑制剂Y-27632进行干预。采用罗丹明标记的鬼笔环肽对细胞骨架进行细胞化学染色。结果显示,培养1 d和2 d,Rho激酶抑制剂Y-27632处理的细胞呈现多角形,并伴有部分伪足形成。细胞培养4 d和7 d,Y-27632处理的细胞碱性磷酸酶（alkaline phosphatase, ALP）活性明显增加（P<0.01）。实时定量PCR揭示,加Y-27632处理细胞的骨分化相关基因Runx2、Alp、β-catenin(β-cat)、osteopontin(Opn)的mRNA表达水平均显著高于对照细胞（P<0.05或P<0.01）。以上结果证明,Rho激酶抑制剂Y 27632能够影响大鼠成骨细胞的形态,并有促进其分化作用。本研究为骨代谢疾病及组织工程的研究提供了新的线索和启示。     

ROCK2 is a major regulator of axonal degeneration,neuronal death and axonal regeneration in the CNS

The Rho/ROCK/LIMK pathway is central for the mediation of repulsive environmental signals in the central nervous system. Several studies using pharmacological Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors have shown positive effects on neurite regeneration and suggest additional pro-survival effects in neurons. However, as none of these drugs is completely target specific, it remains unclear how these effects are mediated and whether ROCK is really the most relevant target of the pathway. To answer these questions, we generated adeno-associated viral vectors to specifically downregulate ROCK2 and LIM domain kinase (LIMK)-1 in rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro and in vivo. We show here that specific knockdown of ROCK2 and LIMK1 equally enhanced neurite outgrowth of RGCs on inhibitory substrates and both induced substantial neuronal regeneration over distances of more than 5 mm after rat optic nerve crush (ONC) in vivo. However, only knockdown of ROCK2 but not LIMK1 increased survival of RGCs after optic nerve axotomy. Moreover, knockdown of ROCK2 attenuated axonal degeneration of the proximal axon after ONC assessed by in vivo live imaging. Mechanistically, we demonstrate here that knockdown of ROCK2 resulted in decreased intraneuronal activity of calpain and caspase 3, whereas levels of pAkt and collapsin response mediator protein 2 and autophagic flux were increased. Taken together, our data characterize ROCK2 as a specific therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases and demonstrate new downstream effects of ROCK2 including axonal degeneration, apoptosis and autophagy.     

ROCK and PRK-2 mediate the inhibitory effect of Y-27632 on polyglutamine aggregation

Polyglutamine expansion in huntingtin (Htt) and the androgen receptor (AR) causes untreatable neurodegenerative diseases. Y-27632, a therapeutic lead, reduces Htt and AR aggregation in cultured cells, and Htt-induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila. Y-27632 inhibits both Rho-associated kinases ROCK and PRK-2, making its precise intracellular target uncertain. Over-expression of either kinase increases Htt and AR aggregation. Three ROCK inhibitors (Y-27632, HA-1077, and H-1152P), and a specific ROCK inhibitory peptide reduce polyglutamine protein aggregation, as does knockdown of ROCK or PRK-2 by RNAi. RNAi also indicates that each kinase is required for the inhibitory effects of Y-27632 to manifest fully. These two actin regulatory kinases are thus involved in polyglutamine aggregation, and their simultaneous inhibition may be an important therapeutic goal.     

Increased expression of Myosin binding protein H in the skeletal muscle of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe and fatal neurodegenerative disease of still unknown pathogenesis. Recent findings suggest that the skeletal muscle may play an active pathogenetic role. To investigate ALS's pathogenesis and to seek diagnostic markers, we analyzed skeletal muscle biopsies with the differential expression proteomic approach. We studied skeletal muscle biopsies from healthy controls (CN), sporadic ALS (sALS), motor neuropathies (MN) and myopathies (M). Pre-eminently among several differentially expressed proteins, Myosin binding protein H (MyBP-H) expression in ALS samples was anomalously high. MyBP-H is a component of the thick filaments of the skeletal muscle and has strong affinity for myosin, but its function is still unclear. High MyBP-H expression level was associated with abnormal expression of Rho kinase 2 (ROCK2), LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) and cofilin2, that might affect the actin–myosin interaction. We propose that MyBP-H expression level serves, as a putative biomarker in the skeletal muscle, to discriminate ALS from motor neuropathies, and that it signals the onset of dysregulation in actin–myosin interaction; this in turn might contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-quinazolinones as Rho kinase inhibitors

Rho kinase (ROCK) is an attractive therapeutic target for various diseases including glaucoma, hypertension, and spinal cord injury. Herein, we report the development of a series of ROCK-II inhibitors based on 4-quinazolinone and quinazoline scaffolds. SAR studies at three positions of the quinazoline core led to the identification of analogs with high potency against ROCK-II and good selectivity over protein kinase A (PKA).     

Selective glucocorticoid control of Rho kinase isoforms regulate cell-cell interactions

The two Rho kinase isoforms ROCK1 and ROCK2 are downstream effectors of the small GTPase RhoA, although relatively little is known about potential isoform specific functions or the selective control of their cellular activities. Using Con8 rat mammary epithelial cells, we show that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone strongly stimulates the level of ROCK2 protein, which accounts for the increase in total cellular ROCK2 activity, whereas, steroid treatment down-regulated ROCK1 specific kinase activity without altering ROCK1 protein levels. In Con8 cells, the glucocorticoid induced formation of tight junctions requires the steroid-mediated down-regulation RhoA and function of the RhoA antagonist Rnd3. Treatment with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 ablated both the glucocorticoid-induced and Rnd3-mediated stimulation in tight junction sealing. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the expression and activity of ROCK1 and ROCK2 can be uncoupled in a signal-dependent manner, and further implicate a new function for ROCK2 in the steroid control of tight junction dynamics.     

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.     

Rho-kinase mediates lysophosphatidic acid-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production via p38 and JNK pathways in human endothelial cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an inflammatory mediator that is elevated in multiple inflammatory diseases, is a potent activator of Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling and of chemokine production in endothelial cells. In this study, LPA activated ROCK, p38, JNK and NF-κB pathways and induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein expression in human endothelial cells. We mapped signaling events downstream of ROCK, driving chemokine production. In summary, MCP-1 production was partly regulated by ROCK acting upstream of p38 and JNK and mediated downstream by NF-κB. IL-8 production was largely driven by ROCK through p38 and JNK activation, but with no involvement of NF-κB.     

Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) signaling and disease

Abstract

The small Rho GTPase family of proteins, encompassing the three major G-protein classes Rho, Rac and cell division control protein 42, are key mitogenic signaling molecules that regulate multiple cancer-associated cellular phenotypes including cell proliferation and motility. These proteins are known for their role in the regulation of actin cytoskeletal dynamics, which is achieved through modulating the activity of their downstream effector molecules. The Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 1 and 2 (ROCK1 and ROCK2) proteins were the first discovered Rho effectors that were primarily established as players in RhoA-mediated stress fiber formation and focal adhesion assembly. It has since been discovered that the ROCK kinases actively phosphorylate a large cohort of actin-binding proteins and intermediate filament proteins to modulate their functions. It is well established that global cellular morphology, as modulated by the three cytoskeletal networks: actin filaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules, is regulated by a variety of accessory proteins whose activities are dependent on their phosphorylation by the Rho-kinases. As a consequence, they regulate many key cellular functions associated with malignancy, including cell proliferation, motility and viability. In this current review, we focus on the role of the ROCK-signaling pathways in disease including cancer.