Drug and siRNA screens identify ROCK2 as a therapeutic target for ciliopathies
Our results indicate that specific ROCK2 inhibitors (e.g. belumosudil) could be repurposed for cystic kidney disease treatment. We propose that ROCK2 inhibition represents a novel, disease-modifying therapeutic approach for heterogeneous ciliopathies.
Authors
- Richard Foster (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2361-3884)
- Alice V. R. Lake (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6341-8661)
- Albert Ong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7211-5400)
- Rachel Trowbridge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4059-2031)
- Jacquelyn Bond (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5390-5688)
- Colin A. Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2979-8234)
- Andrew J. Streets
- Gary Grant (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2574-5442)
- Georgia Mavria (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7227-1614)
- Ciaran G. Morrison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2401-7029)
- Claire E. L. Smith (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8320-5105)
- Sushma Nagaraja Grellscheid (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6410-1749)
- Sunayna Best (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8685-7800)
- Thomas Stevenson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4698-0844)
- Subaashini Natarajan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4259-7680)
- Katarzyna Szymańska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7736-5225)
- Magdalena Karwatka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5375-4488)
Institutions
- University of Leeds (GB)
- Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
- Durham University (GB)
- St James's University Hospital (GB)
- University of Bergen (NO)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Medicine
- Published
- 2025-04-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00847-1
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Genetic and Kidney Cyst Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.09
Funders
- Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity
- UK Research and Innovation
- Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children
- Action Medical Research
- Kidney Research UK
- Newlife – The Charity for Disabled Children
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Medical Research Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council