Abstract
Rho-kinase is one of the effectors of the small GTP-binding protein Rho. Rho/Rho-kinase pathway plays an important role in various physiologic functions, such as vascular smooth muscle contraction and proliferation, cell migration, and gene expression. Increased activity of Rho-kinase has been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of vasospasm in coronary artery and cerebral artery, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and ischemia/reperfusion injury in the heart and the brain. Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, is clinically available in Japan for the treatment of vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Rho-kinase inhibitors have been reported to have protective properties against a wide range of cardiovascular diseases and neurologic diseases including ischemic brain injury and neuropathic pain. Rho-kinase inhibitors may be efficacious therapeutic ways to treat various kinds of diseases.
