Abstract
Increased arterial tone and the resulting rise in peripheral vascular resistance are major determinants of the elevated arterial pressure in hypertension. The RhoA/Rho kinase signaling pathways are now recognized as a major regulator of vascular smooth muscle contraction and arterial tone. Here we describe methods to directly and indirectly assess Rho kinase activity in vitro and in cells and tissues.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsSpringer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more
References
Loirand G, Pacaud P (2010) The role of Rho protein signaling in hypertension. Nat Rev Cardiol 7:637–647
Somlyo AP, Somlyo AV (2003) Ca2+ sensitivity of smooth muscle and nonmuscle myosin II: modulated by G proteins, kinases, and myosin phosphatase. Physiol Rev 83:1325–1358
Uehata M, Ishizaki T, Satoh H, Ono T, Kawahara T, Morishita T, Tamakawa H, Yamagami K, Inui J, Maekawa M, Narumiya S (1997) Calcium sensitization of smooth muscle mediated by a Rho-associated protein kinase in hypertension. Nature 389:990–994
Satoh K, Fukumoto Y, Shimokawa H (2011) Rho-kinase: important new therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 301:H287–296
Hirano K, Hirano M, Kanaide H (2004) Regulation of myosin phosphorylation and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle. J Smooth Muscle Res 40:219–236
Wang Y, Zheng XR, Riddick N, Bryden M, Baur W, Zhang X, Surks HK (2009) ROCK isoform regulation of myosin phosphatase and contractility in vascular smooth muscle cells. Circ Res 104:531–540
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and grants from the Agence National de la Recherche (ANR-09-JCJC-0115-01 and ANR-08-GENO-040-01) and the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (DEQ20090515416).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Sauzeau, V., Loirand, G. (2017). In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches to Assess Rho Kinase Activity. In: Touyz, R., Schiffrin, E. (eds) Hypertension. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1527. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6625-7_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6625-7_17
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6623-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6625-7
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols