Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
Online ISSN : 1347-8648
Print ISSN : 1347-8613
ISSN-L : 1347-8613
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Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies of Chronic Renal Injury:
Renoprotective Effect of Rho-Kinase Inhibitor in Hypertensive Glomerulosclerosis
Toshio NishikimiHiroaki Matsuoka
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2006 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 22-28

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Abstract

Among the GTP-binding proteins, Rho is known to function as a molecular switch in various cellular functions. Among the Rho effectors, the cellular function and signal transduction of Rho-kinase have been extensively studied. However, information about its in vivo functions is still limited. With the recent development of a specific Rho-kinase inhibitor such as Y-27632 and fasudil, the understanding of the role of the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway in vitro and in vivo has advanced. However, to date, there have been few studies investigating the role of Rho-kinase in renal disease. Recent studies have shown that Rho-kinase inhibitor significantly attenuated the tubulointerstitial fibrosis in kidney induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction. However, there have been few studies investigating the role of the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway in hypertensive glomerular sclerosis. In this review, we described the role of the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway in the progression of renal glomerulosclerosis in several forms of hypertensive rats. Our results suggest that chronic inhibition of the Rho-kinase pathway may be a new therapeutic approach for hypertensive glomerulosclerosis. Our results also suggest that the mechanism of the renoprotective effect of Rho-kinase inhibitor is partly mediated via inhibition of extracellular matrix gene expression, monocytes/macrophages infiltration, oxidative stress, and upregulation of eNOS gene expression.

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© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 2006
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