Deficiency of ROCK1 in bone marrow-derived cells protects against atherosclerosis in LDLR-/- mice.

ABSTRACT: Rho kinases (ROCKs) are serine-threonine protein kinases that regulate the actin cytoskeleton. Recent studies suggest that ROCKs also play an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, the isoform- and tissue-specific role of ROCKs in mediating this process is unknown. Using homologous recombination, we generated mutant mice harboring alleles with homozygous deletion of ROCK1 (ROCK1(-/-)). Most ROCK1(-/-) mice die perinatally. However, a few ROCK1(-/-) mice survive to adulthood, are phenotypically normal, and have no apparent compensatory changes in ROCK2. Using these ROCK1(-/-) mice, we show that ROCK1 in bone marrow-derived macrophages is critical to the development of atherosclerosis, in part, by mediating foam cell formation and macrophage chemotaxis. Lipid accumulation and ath

SUBMITTER: Wang HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2537434 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature