Rho-associated kinase 2 polymorphism in patients with vasospastic angina.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Recent studies indicate that in response to vasoconstrictor stimuli, the small GTPase RhoA and its down-stream effector, Rho-associated kinase 2 (ROCK)/Rho-kinase, are associated with hypercontraction of the vascular smooth muscle of coronary arteries through augmentation of myosin light chain phosphorylation and Ca(2+) sensitization. Expression of ROCK/Rho-kinase mRNA was significantly increased and up-regulated in the spastic coronary artery in a porcine model, and a specific inhibitor of ROCK/Rho-kinase inhibited coronary artery spasm in humans. We therefore explored the role of ROCK2 polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of vasospastic angina (VA).

Subjects and methods

We studied 106 patients with VA who exhibited spontaneous or provoked coronary sp

SUBMITTER: Yoo SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3390426 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature