Skip to main content
. 2010 Dec 3;90(1):88–96. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvq385

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Rac1 and RhoA couple to stretch-induced activation of stress-activated protein kinases. Prior to stretching, CFs were infected with adenovirus (24 h) which resulted in expression of Rac1-DN, RhoA-DN, or control protein (GFP). (A and D) After 2 and 15 min of stretch (ST) or no stretch (NS), phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK1/2 were determined. (B and C) Bar graphs show fold changes in p38 and JNK1/2 phosphorylation after Rac1-DN expression compared to control virus. Expression of Rac1-DN significantly increased both basal and stretch-induced p38 activity, however, stretch-induced JNK1/2 activation was decreased. (E and F) Bar graphs show fold changes in JNK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation after RhoA-DN expression compared with control virus. Blockade of RhoA signalling by RhoA-DN expression significantly inhibited stretch-induced p38 activation at 15 min. However, Rho-DN expression increased stretch-induced JNK1/2 (both 2 and 15 min) activation. Values are means ± SEM from five independent experiments.