Involvement of rho p21 in cyclic strain-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK), morphological changes and migration of endothelial cells.

The molecular mechanisms by which endothelial cells sense and respond to physical forces remain to be elucidated. Recently we reported that cyclic strain-induced morphological change and migration of EC were regulated by the tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) and paxillin. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of the small GTP-binding protein rho p21 in EC exposed to cyclic strain. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (EC) were subjected to 10% average strain at 60 cycle/min. Clostridium botulinum C3 transferase (C3) was used as a specific inhibitor of rho p21. Preincubation of EC with C3 inhibited ADP-ribosylation of rho (94%) and inhibited the morphological change, reorganization of actin filaments, and migration induced by cyclic strain. Moreover, C3 inhibited the cyclic strain-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK and paxillin. These results demonstrate that rho downregulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK and paxillin and can modulate the morphological changes and migration induced by cyclic strain.