School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 26;23(3):1388. doi: 10.3390/ijms23031388.
The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of small integral membrane proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transport of water across biological membranes in response to osmotic pressure gradients as well as enable the transmembrane diffusion of small neutral solutes (such as urea, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide) and ions. AQPs are expressed throughout the human body. Here, we review their key roles in fluid homeostasis, glandular secretions, signal transduction and sensation, barrier function, immunity and inflammation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Evidence from a wide variety of studies now supports a view of the functions of AQPs being much more complex than simply mediating the passive flow of water across biological membranes. The discovery and development of small-molecule AQP inhibitors for research use and therapeutic development will lead to new insights into the basic biology of and novel treatments for the wide range of AQP-associated disorders.
水通道蛋白（AQP）是一类小的、整合在细胞膜上的蛋白家族，能在渗透压梯度的作用下促进水的双向跨膜转运，并能使小的中性溶质（如尿素、甘油和过氧化氢）和离子进行跨膜扩散。AQP 广泛表达于人体各组织器官中。本文综述了 AQP 在体液平衡、腺体分泌、信号转导和感觉、屏障功能、免疫和炎症、细胞迁移和血管生成中的关键作用。大量研究证据表明，AQP 的功能远比介导水在生物膜中的被动流动复杂。小分子 AQP 抑制剂的发现和研发将有助于深入了解与 AQP 相关疾病的基础生物学，并为这些疾病提供新的治疗方法。
