Maintenance of radiation-induced intestinal fibrosis: Cellular and molecular features

Figure 5 Targeting the Rho/ROCK pathway for normal tissue protection. Molecular binding on receptor associated to heterotrimeric G-proteins activated Rho protein by a shift between Rho-guanosin diphosphate (Rho-GDP) to Rho-guanosin triphosphate (Rho-GTP). This activation of Rho induced in cascade Rho kinase activation. As a consequence immune response, fibrosis and vascular damage were modulated. Rho protein anchorage to cytoplasmic membrane depends on the isoprenylation. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) required for this post-translational modification come from cholesterol metabolism, and may be inhibited by statins.