RhoA/rho-associated kinase mediates fibroblast contractile force generation.

The intracellular signals governing contractile force generation by non-muscle cells remain uncertain. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the rhoA/rho-associated kinase signaling pathway is a principal mediator of contractile force generation in non-muscle cells. We measured myosin II regulatory light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and directly quantitated force generation by chicken embryo fibroblasts in the absence and presence of selective inhibitors of rhoA, and its downstream effector, rho-associated kinase. Inactivation of rhoA, with C3 transferase, inhibited serum-stimulated MLC phosphorylation and contractile force generation. Y-27632, an inhibitor of rho-associated kinase, reduced basal contractile tension, and inhibited both serum and endothelin-1 stimulated MLC phosphorylation and contractile force generation. The results of this study provide novel evidence indicating that the rhoA/rho-associated kinase signaling pathway is a principal mediator of MLC phosphorylation and consequent contractile force generation by non-muscle cells.