Ribatti Domenico, Ranieri Girolamo, Annese Tiziana, Nico Beatrice
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy; National Cancer Institute "Giovanni Paolo II," Bari, Italy.
National Cancer Institute "Giovanni Paolo II," Bari, Italy.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014 May;1840(5):1550-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.09.025. Epub 2013 Sep 21.
The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of 13 small hydrophobic integral transmembrane water channel proteins involved in transcellular and transepithelial water movement, transport of fluid and cell migration.
This review article summarizes our knowledge concerning the involvement of AQPs in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastatic process.
Tumor cells types express AQPs and a positive correlation exists between histological tumor grade and the AQP expression. Moreover, AQPs are involved also in tumor edema formation and angiogenesis in several solid and hematological tumors.
AQPs inhibition in endothelial and tumor cells might limit tumor growth and spread, suggesting a potential therapeutic use in the treatment of tumors. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Aquaporins.
水通道蛋白（AQPs）是一个由13种小的疏水性整合跨膜水通道蛋白组成的家族，参与跨细胞和跨上皮的水转运、液体运输及细胞迁移。
本文综述了我们关于水通道蛋白参与肿瘤生长、血管生成和转移过程的认识。
肿瘤细胞类型表达水通道蛋白，且肿瘤组织学分级与水通道蛋白表达之间存在正相关。此外，水通道蛋白还参与多种实体瘤和血液系统肿瘤的肿瘤水肿形成及血管生成。
抑制内皮细胞和肿瘤细胞中的水通道蛋白可能会限制肿瘤生长和扩散，提示其在肿瘤治疗中具有潜在的治疗用途。本文是名为《水通道蛋白》的特刊的一部分。
