Inhibition of Rho kinase modulates radiation induced fibrogenic phenotype in intestinal smooth muscle cells through alteration of the cytoskeleton and connective tissue growth factor expression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Late radiation enteritis in humans is associated with accumulation of extracellular matrix and increased connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression that may involve intestinal muscular layers.

Aims

We investigated the molecular pathways involved in maintenance of radiation induced fibrosis by gene profiling and postulated that alteration of the Rho pathway could be associated with radiation induced fibrogenic signals and CTGF sustained expression.

Patients and methods

Ileal biopsies from individuals with and without radiation enteritis were analysed by cDNA array, and primary cultures of intestinal smooth muscle cells were established. Then, the effect of pharmacological inhibition of p160 Rho kinase, using Y-27632, was studied by real time reverse t

SUBMITTER: Bourgier C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1774418 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature