State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100038, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jan 16;20(2):366. doi: 10.3390/ijms20020366.
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of highly selective transmembrane channels that mainly transport water across the cell and some facilitate low-molecular-weight solutes. Eight AQPs, including AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, AQP6, AQP7, and AQP11, are expressed in different segments and various cells in the kidney to maintain normal urine concentration function. AQP2 is critical in regulating urine concentrating ability. The expression and function of AQP2 are regulated by a series of transcriptional factors and post-transcriptional phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and glycosylation. Mutation or functional deficiency of AQP2 leads to severe nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Studies with animal models show AQPs are related to acute kidney injury and various chronic kidney diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, and renal cell carcinoma. Experimental data suggest ideal prospects for AQPs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinic. This review article mainly focuses on recent advances in studying AQPs in renal diseases.
水通道蛋白（AQP）是一类具有高度选择性的跨膜通道蛋白家族，主要介导水的跨细胞转运，部分 AQP 还可转运某些小分子溶质。肾脏中存在 AQP1、AQP2、AQP3、AQP4、AQP5、AQP6、AQP7 和 AQP11 等 8 种 AQP，它们在肾脏的不同节段和各种细胞中表达，共同维持正常尿液浓缩功能。AQP2 对于调节尿液浓缩能力至关重要。AQP2 的表达和功能受一系列转录因子和翻译后磷酸化、泛素化和糖基化调节。AQP2 的突变或功能缺失可导致严重的肾性尿崩症。动物模型研究表明，AQP 与急性肾损伤和各种慢性肾脏病有关，如糖尿病肾病、多囊肾病和肾细胞癌。实验数据提示 AQP 作为生物标志物和治疗靶点在临床应用中具有广阔的前景。本文主要综述了 AQP 在肾脏疾病中的研究进展。
