Journal: Frontiers in Physiology
Article Title: LIM kinases in cardiovascular health and disease
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1506356
Figure Lengend Snippet: LIMK activity promotes VSMC migration. The activation of RhoA/ROCK by stimuli such as PDFG-BB leads to the phosphorylation of LIMK and inactivation of cofilin, thereby promoting actin polymerization. Concurrently, ROCK phosphorylates MLCP and inhibits its activity, resulting in increased phosphorylation of MLC and subsequent VSMC contraction. Activation of inflammatory cytokines such as CCR8, CKLF1, and CXCL12 also modulates cell migration via lamellipodia formation. These inflammatory processes likely promote VSMC migration in a LIMK-dependent manner. Whether inflammatory cytokines activate LIMK via Rac2 activation remains unknown. (PDFG-BB: Platelet derived growth factor BB; Arp 2/3: Actin related protein 2/3; CCR8: chemokine receptor-8; CKLF1: Chemokine-like factor 1; CXCL12: C-X-C motif chemokine 12; MLCP: Myosin light chain phosphatase).
Article Snippet: Since the first report on the development of a selective inhibitor of LIMK activity by Bristol-Myers-Squibb in 2006, only one such molecule has reached clinical trials for treating glaucoma ( ).
Techniques: Activity Assay, Migration, Activation Assay, Phospho-proteomics, Derivative Assay