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Updated: May 6, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy
Published on: May 13, 2012
[Role of Rho/ROCK in the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells]
1Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
Abstract:
The migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from media to intima is a critical step in the formation of atheroma and vascular stenosis as well as in the restenosis after vascular intervention. As an important downstream effector of RhoA, Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) plays an important role in VSMC migration and vascular remodeling by regulating actin filament cytoskeleton and focal adhesion. There are many bioactive substances such as aldosterone, sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and angiotensin II (Ang II) that could induce VSMC migration through Rho/ROCK pathway by binding to their specific receptors. Studies on Rho/ROCK pathway could help us to better understand how cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension develop.
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