Inhibition of Rho kinase protects against colitis in mice by attenuating intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction via MLC and the NF-κB pathway

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Rho kinase (also known as ROCK) inhibitor in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced mouse colitis; and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of ROCK1/ROCK2 inhibition in enhancing intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) function. A specific inhibitor of ROCK, Y-27632, was used to examine the role of ROCK in mouse colitis models. ROCK1 and ROCK2 were silenced respectively using RNA interference in Caco-2 cells. The expression of tight junction proteins and the downstream molecules of ROCK were assessed. Y-27632 alleviated colonic inflammation and decreased intestinal permeability. ROCK-myosin light chain (MLC) and ROCK-NF-κB pathway were activated in colitis and inhibited by Y-27632. In vitro, ROCK1 RNAi primarily downregulated the phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase-targeting subunit-1 (MYPT-1) and MLC, while ROCK2 RNAi inhibited phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). In conclusion, the results suggested that the ROCK inhibitor alleviated colitis and IEB dysfunction. Inhibition of phospho-MYPT-1 and MLC by ROCK1 knockout or inhibition of NF-κB phosphorylation by ROCK2 knockout may be the underlying mechanisms.