Aquaporins in Digestive System

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017:969:123-130. doi: 10.1007/978-94-024-1057-0_8.

Abstract

In this chapter, we mainly discuss the expression and function of aquaporins (AQPs ) expressed in digestive system . AQPs in gastrointestinal tract include four members of aquaporin subfamily: AQP1, AQP4, AQP5 and AQP8, and a member of aquaglyceroporin subfamily: AQP3. In the digestive glands, especially the liver, we discuss three members of aquaporin subfamily: AQP1, AQP5 and AQP8, a member of aquaglyceroporin subfamily: AQP9. AQP3 is involved in the diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease; AQP5 is relevant to gastric carcinoma cell proliferation and migration; AQP9 plays considerable role in glycerol metabolism , urea transport and hepatocellular carcinoma. Further investigation is necessary for specific locations and functions of AQPs in digestive system.

Keywords: Aquaporins; Diabetes; Digestive system; Gastrointestinal tract; Glycerol metabolism; Water electrolyte balance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquaporin 1 / genetics
  • Aquaporin 1 / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Diarrhea / genetics
  • Diarrhea / metabolism*
  • Diarrhea / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glycerol / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / genetics
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / metabolism*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Urea / metabolism
  • Water / metabolism

Substances

  • AQP1 protein, human
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Water
  • Aquaporin 1
  • Urea
  • Glycerol