Rho kinase inhibition rescues the endothelial cell cerebral cavernous malformation phenotype

J Biol Chem. 2010 Apr 16;285(16):11760-4. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C109.097220. Epub 2010 Feb 24.

Abstract

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are vascular lesions causing seizures and stroke. Mutations causing inactivation of one of three genes, ccm1, -2, or -3, are sufficient to induce vascular endothelial cell defects resulting in CCM. Herein, we show that loss of expression of the CCM1, -2, or -3 proteins causes a marked increase in expression of the GTPase RhoA. Live cell imaging with a RhoA-specific biosensor demonstrates increased RhoA activity with loss of CCM1, -2, or -3, with an especially pronounced RhoA activation in both the cytosol and the nucleus with loss of CCM1 expression. Increased RhoA activation was associated with Rho kinase-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2. Functionally, loss of CCM1, -2, or -3 inhibited endothelial cell vessel-like tube formation and extracellular matrix invasion, each of which is rescued by chemical inhibition or short hairpin RNA knockdown of Rho kinase. The findings, for the first time, define a signaling network for CCM1, -2, and -3 in CCM pathology, whereby loss of CCM1, -2, or -3 protein expression results in increased RhoA activity, with the activation of Rho kinase responsible for endothelial cell dysregulation. The results define Rho kinase as a therapeutic target to rescue endothelial cells from loss of CCM protein function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Cardiac Myosins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / drug therapy
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / genetics*
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / metabolism*
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Humans
  • KRIT1 Protein
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Myosin Light Chains / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Amides
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • CCM2 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • KRIT1 Protein
  • KRIT1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Myosin Light Chains
  • PDCD10 protein, human
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Pyridines
  • myosin light chain 2
  • RHOA protein, human
  • Y 27632
  • ROCK2 protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • Cardiac Myosins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein