Journal
CURRENT OPINION IN NEPHROLOGY AND HYPERTENSION
Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 111-115Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/MNH.0b013e3280148e4f
Keywords
angiotensin II; c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase; extracellular signal-regulated kinase; p38; Rho-kinase
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Funding
- NHLBI NIH HHS [HL063810, HL076770] Funding Source: Medline
- NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE [R01HL063810, R01HL076770] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Purpose of review To summarize the most recent findings concerning the targeting of mitogen-activated protein kinases and small GTP-binding proteins toward vascular remodeling together with molecular mechanisms of their activations in vascular pathophisiology. Recent findings In addition to targeting the classical Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade, Rho-kinase inhibitors, as well as the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or 'statins' have pleiotropic efficacy for experimental cardiovascular diseases that involve inhibition of the signal transduction cascades originated by the small GTP-binding proteins such as Rho and Rac. Moreover, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the activation of these small GTP-binding proteins and downstream mitogen-activated protein kinases in cardiovascular tissue and cells have recently been better characterized. Additionally, gene-targeting studies in animal models are revealing select roles of the isoforms of these signaling proteins in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. This is exemplified by the role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases in mediating atherosclerosis and diabetes. Summary Characterization of the function of small GTP-binding proteins, mitogen-activated protein kinases and their effectors in cardiovascular pathophysiology can be readily identified by using select inhibitors, dominant-negative gene transfer and the generation of select gene-targeted animals. These findings strongly support the notion that small GTP-binding proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases are promising therapeutic targets toward cardiovascular diseases.
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