ROCK as a molecular bond connecting coronary microvascular and cardiac remodelling

This editorial refers to ‘Enhanced endothelin-1/Rho-kinase signaling and coronarymicrovascular dysfunction in hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy’ by S.H. Tsai et al., pp. 1329–1337.

Communication between cardiomyocytes and the coronary microvasculature is imperative for adequate cardiac function. The high metabolic rate of the heart requires sufficient myocardial oxygen delivery through the coronary microvasculature, which is accomplished by adjusting coronary microvascular resistance. Coronary microvascular resistance is modulated by a variety of factors including extravascular compressive forces and the regulation ofmicrovascular tone, which involves the interplay between metabolic, myogenic, neurohumoral, and endotheliumderived factors. Together these mechanisms modulate coronary blood flow and act to sustain an adequate balance between myocardial oxygen delivery (supply) and metabolism (demand). [...]