Rho kinase inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases.

RhoA and Rho-kinase (ROCK) participate in diverse cellular signaling functions such as smooth muscle contraction, cytoskeleton rearrangement, and cell migration and proliferation. In smooth muscle, ROCK plays an important role in calcium sensitization, an event that controls vascular vessel tone. Recent studies using ROCK inhibitors along with cellular and molecular biology techniques have revealed a pivotal role of this enzyme in many other aspects of cardiovascular function. This review will focus on the current understanding of Rho/ROCK signaling pathways and discuss the use of ROCK inhibitors as therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases ranging from hypertension to atherosclerosis.