V. Sauzeau et al., Human urotensin II-induced contraction and arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation are mediated by RhoA and Rho-kinase, CIRCUL RES, 88(11), 2001, pp. 1102-1104
The aim of this work was to investigate the coupling of human urotensin II
(hU-II) to RhoA activation and regulation of RhoA-dependent functions. The
use of the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and the development of a membrane-p
ermeant RhoA inhibitor (TAT-C3) allowed us to demonstrate that hU-II induce
d arterial smooth muscle contraction, actin stress fiber formation, and pro
liferation through the activation of the small GTPase RhoA and its downstre
am effector Rho-kinase.