Rho kinase in the regulation of cell death and survival

• Authors: J. Shi , L. Wei
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Rho kinase (ROCK) belongs to a family of serine/threonine kinases that are activated via interaction with Rho GTPases. ROCK is involved in a wide range of fundamental cellular functions, such as contraction, adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Recent studies have shown that ROCK plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis in various cell types and animal disease models. Two ROCK isoforms, ROCK1 and ROCK2, are assumed to be function redundant, this based largely on kinase construct overexpression and chemical inhibitors (Y27632 and fasudil) which inhibit both ROCK1 and ROCK2. Gene targeting and RNA interference approaches allow further dissection of distinct cellular, physiological, and patho-physiological functions of the two ROCK isoforms. This review, based on recent molecular, cellular, and animal studies, focuses on the current understanding of ROCK signaling in the regulation of apoptosis and highlights new findings from recently generated ROCK-deficient mice.

Keywords

EN

APOPTOSIS; GENE TARGETING; RHO KINASE; SURVIVAL

Discipline

• IMMUNOLOGY: IMMUNOLOGY

• Publisher: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 55
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 61-75

Contributors

author

J. Shi

author

L. Wei

• Document Type: REVIEW
• Publication order reference: Lei Wei, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, School of Medicine, R4 building, Room 370, 1044 West Walnut Str., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5225, USA