Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 12;22(4):1845. doi: 10.3390/ijms22041845.
The mammalian immune system senses foreign antigens by mechanisms that involve the interplay of various kinds of immune cells, culminating in inflammation resolution and tissue clearance. The ability of the immune cells to communicate (via chemokines) and to shift shape for migration, phagocytosis or antigen uptake is mainly supported by critical proteins such as aquaporins (AQPs) that regulate water fluid homeostasis and volume changes. AQPs are protein channels that facilitate water and small uncharged molecules' (such as glycerol or hydrogen peroxide) diffusion through membranes. A number of AQP isoforms were found upregulated in inflammatory conditions and are considered essential for the migration and survival of immune cells. The present review updates information on AQPs' involvement in immunity and inflammatory processes, highlighting their role as crucial players and promising targets for drug discovery.
哺乳动物免疫系统通过各种免疫细胞的相互作用来感知外来抗原，最终导致炎症的解决和组织的清除。免疫细胞的通讯（通过趋化因子）和改变形状以进行迁移、吞噬或抗原摄取的能力主要由水通道蛋白 (AQPs) 等关键蛋白质支持，AQPs 调节水液动态平衡和体积变化。许多 AQP 同工型在炎症条件下被发现上调，被认为对于免疫细胞的迁移和存活是必不可少的。本综述更新了 AQP 参与免疫和炎症过程的信息，强调了它们作为关键参与者的作用和作为药物发现有前途的靶点。
