The regulatory roles of aquaporins in the digestive system

Genes and Diseases

Zhechuan Mei¹  Lin Lv²  Shengtao Liao²  Li Gan³ 

[1] Corresponding author.;Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, PR China;Teaching and Research Section of Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China;

关键词: Aquaporins;    Digestive system;    Distribution;    Function;    Water transfer;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Aquaporins (AQPs) are highly conserved small transmembrane proteins, which are responsible for the water transport across the cell membrane. AQPs are abundantly expressed in numerous types of cells such as epithelial and endothelial cells. The expression of AQP-1, -3, -4, -5, -8 and -9 were found in the digestive system, where these six AQP isoforms serve essential roles including mediating the transmembrane water transport and regulating the secretion of gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, consequently facilitating the digestion and absorption of GI contents. In addition, the expression levels of AQPs are controlled by various factors, and AQPs can stimulate numerous signaling pathways; however, aberrant expression of AQPs in the GI tracts are associated with the initiation and development of numerous diseases. Thus, this review provides an overview of the expression and functions of AQPs in the digestive system.

【 授权许可】

Unknown