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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Enhancing the Engraftment of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes via a Transient Inhibition of Rho Kinase Activity
Published on: July 10, 2019
Integrin-linked kinase controls vascular wall formation by negatively regulating Rho/ROCK-mediated vascular smooth
Naoko Kogata1, Rachel M Tribe, Reinhard Fässler
1Vascular Development Laboratory, UK London Research Institute, London WC2A 3PX, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) form contractile layers around larger blood vessels in a process that is essential for the formation of a fully functional vasculature. Here, we show that integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is required for the formation of a unitary layer of aligned VSMCs around arterioles and the regulation of blood vessel constriction in mice. In the absence of ILK, activated Rho/ROCK signaling induces the elevated phosphorylation of myosin light chain leading to abnormally enhanced VSMC contraction in vitro and in vivo. Our findings identify ILK as a key component regulating vascular wall formation by negatively modulating VSMC contractility.
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