Rho GTPases in pulmonary vascular dysfunction

Abstract

Rho proteins, best known for their regulatory role in actin dynamics, stimulate a variety of processes important in the control of vascular function, including morphogenesis, migration, cell proliferation and adhesion, cell survival, gene expression, vesicle transport and microparticle formation. Rho GTPases have been implicated in several pulmonary vascular pathologies. Here we give an overview of the current knowledge of the role of Rho GTPases in vascular dysfunction, and pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.