Numerous cellular studies have indicated that RhoA signaling is required for oncogenic Ras-induced transformation, suggesting that RhoA is a useful target in Ras induced neoplasia. However, to date very limited data exist to genetically attribute RhoA function to Ras-mediated tumorigenesis in mammalian models. In order to assess whether RhoA is required for K-Ras-induced lung cancer initiation,...

Highly specialized cells, the thyrocytes, express a thyroid-specific set of genes for thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroperoxidase, and the transcription factors TTF-1, TTF-2, and Pax-8. The implication of the small GTPase RhoA in TSH-mediated proliferation of FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells has been previously demonstrated. To further analyze RhoA function in thyroid cell proliferation and differentiation pat...

The small GTPase RhoA serves as a nodal point for signaling through hormones and mechanical stretch. However, the role of RhoA signaling in cardiac pathophysiology is poorly understood. To address this issue, we generated mice with cardiomyocyte-specific conditional expression of low levels of activated RhoA (CA-RhoA mice) and demonstrated that they exhibited no overt cardiomyopathy. When chall...

RHOA, a founding member of the Rho GTPase family, is critical for actomyosin dynamics, polarity, and morphogenesis in response to developmental cues, mechanical stress, and inflammation. In murine small intestinal epithelium, inducible RHOA deletion causes a loss of epithelial polarity, with disrupted villi and crypt organization. In the intestinal crypts, RHOA deficiency results in reduced cel...

RhoA, a member of the Rho GTPase family, has been extensively studied in the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics, gene transcription, cell cycle progression, and cell transformation. Overexpression of RhoA is found in many malignancies and elevated RhoA activity is associated with proliferation phenotypes of cancer cells. We reported previously that RhoA was hyperactivated in gastric cancer tis...

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of RhoA siRNA on the malignant phenotypes of human colorectal cancer cell line LoVo. METHODS The siRNA expression vector pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA-RhoA targeting the mRNA of RhoA and vector pGPU6/GFP/Neo-NC (as a control) were constructed, and then transfected into LoVo cells. The expression of Survivin was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase cha...

Sustained overactivation of RhoA is a common component for the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension. Although activity of Rho proteins depends on Rho exchange factors (Rho-GEFs), the identity of Rho-GEFs expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and participating in the control of Rho protein activity and Rho-dependent functions remains unknown. To add...

Adhesion of tumor cells to host cell layers and subsequent migration are pivotal steps in cancer invasion and metastasis. The small GTP-binding protein RhoA controls cell adhesion and motility through organization of the actin cytoskeleton and regulation of actomyosin contractility. Cultured rat MM1 hepatoma cells migrate through a mesothelial cell monolayer in vitro in a serum-dependent, RhoA-...

Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) has been reported as essential to the invasion process and aggressiveness of numerous cancers. However, there are only sparse data on the expression and activity of RhoA in clinically localised prostate cancer. In numerous cancers, tumour cells at the invasive front demonstrate more aggressive behaviour in comparison with the cells in the central regions...

Cell migration is essential for various physiological and pathological processes. Polarization in motile cells requires the coordination of several key signaling molecules, including RhoA small GTPases and phosphoinositides. Although RhoA participates in a front-rear polarization in migrating cells, little is known about the functional interaction between RhoA and lipid turnover. We find here t...