Rho-Associated Kinase 2 Polymorphism of Vasospastic Angina in Korean Population

Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs), the immediate downstream targets of RhoA, are ubiquitously expressed serine-threonine protein kinases, which are involved in diverse cellular functions, including smooth muscle contraction, actin cytoskeleton organization, cell adhesion and motility, and gene expression. Recent studies have shown that ROCKs may play a pivotal role in cardiovascular diseases, such as vasospastic angina, ischemic stroke, and heart failure. Rho-associated kinases are important regulators of cellular apoptosis, growth, metabolism, and migration via control of the actin cytoskeletal assembly and cell contraction. ROCKs phosphorylate various targets and mediate broad range of cellular responses that involve in actin cytoskeleton in response to GTPase-RhoA. ROCKs increase myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation through phosphorylating the myosin binding subunit on myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) and inhibition of MLCP. In addition, MLC is one of the major downstream target proteins of ROCKs. ROCK2 phosphorylates Ser of MLC, the same residue that is phosphorylated by MLC kinase. Thus, ROCK2 may increase cellular contractility via dual effects on MLC kinase and MLCP. Indeed, ROCK2 can alter the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction, in response to the changes in Ca concentration. Based on the above exEditorial