2. Academic Validation
  3. Rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Kinase (ROCK) in Molecular Regulation of Angiogenesis

Rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Kinase (ROCK) in Molecular Regulation of Angiogenesis

  • Theranostics. 2018 Nov 26;8(21):6053-6069. doi: 10.7150/thno.30305.
Jing Liu 1,  Youichiro Wada 2,  Mari Katsura 2,  Hideto Tozawa 2,  Nicholas Erwin 3,  Carolyn M Kapron 3,  Gang Bao 4,  Ju Liu 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
  • 2 The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
  • 3 Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
  • 4 Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
PMID: 30613282 DOI: 10.7150/thno.30305
Abstract

Identified as a major downstream effector of the small GTPase RhoA, Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) is a versatile regulator of multiple cellular processes. Angiogenesis, the process of generating new capillaries from the pre-existing ones, is required for the development of various diseases such as Cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, ROCK has attracted attention for its crucial role in angiogenesis, making it a promising target for new therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the role of ROCK signaling in regulating the permeability, migration, proliferation and tubulogenesis of endothelial cells (ECs), as well as its functions in non-ECs which constitute the pro-angiogenic microenvironment. The therapeutic potential of ROCK inhibitors in angiogenesis-related diseases is also discussed.

Keywords

Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK); angiogenesis; endothelial cell; microenvironment; therapeutic target.

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