RhoH GTPase: a key regulator of hematopoietic cell proliferation and apoptosis?

Cell Cycle. 2005 Feb;4(2):201-2. doi: 10.4161/cc.4.2.1490. Epub 2005 Feb 18.

Abstract

Rho GTPases are well characterized as critical regulators of cell growth and actin cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells. The RhoE/Rnd3 subfamily member RhoH is hematopoietic- specific and GTPase deficient and thus is expected to be in the constitutively active, GTP-bound conformation. The activity of RhoH is likely regulated by the level of expression rather than GTP-binding/GTP-hydrolysis cycle in the cell. By RNAi based knock-down and overexpression approaches we recently have shown in hematopoietic progenitor cells that RhoH negatively impacts on growth factor-induced proliferation and survival and modulates chemokine-induced actin reorganization and cell migration. In addition, RhoH appears to counteract Rac GTPase activities, suggesting a possible mechanism by which RhoH functions as an antagonist of Rac signaling in the regulation of cell growth and actin-based functions in blood lineages.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / analysis
  • Actins / physiology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cytoskeleton / chemistry
  • Cytoskeleton / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • RhoH protein, human
  • RhoH protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins