The mechanism about the role of RhoA/ROCK singal pathway in portal hypertension / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

The hepatic portal system is a unique circulatory system that connects two systems of capillary beds ; one in the wall of the small intestine and spleen and the second in the sinusoidal area of the liver.Therefore,alterations in vasoreactivity (vasodilation and vasoconstriction) play a critical role in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension (PHT).The RhoA/ ROCK pathway exerts an important role in the Ca2+-independent mechanism in vascular smooth muscle (VSM).This mechanism not only modulates the constriction of intrahepatic small vessels and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) but also effects the hyperdynamic circulation due to vascular hyporesponsiveness.Understanding the detailed mechanism and role of the RhoA/ROCK signal pathway in portal hypertension could be of great utility in providing a new target for portal hypertension therapy.