RHO SIGNALING in Vascular Diseases

  1. Tammy M. Seasholtz and
  2. Joan Heller Brown
  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, 92093-0636

Abstract

Rho signaling pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells are highly activated in hypertension, a condition associated with a variety of vascular diseases, including restenosis injury and atherosclerosis. In this review we suggest that inflammatory cytokines and agonists of G protein–coupled receptors that activate Rho are effective triggers of vascular disease. Accordingly, Rho kinase inhibitors and statins may have therapeutic potential for preventing vascular disease characterized by Rho-mediated cell proliferation and gene expression.

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