Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
Department of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Cells. 2022 Aug 18;11(16):2564. doi: 10.3390/cells11162564.
Astrocytes have distinctive morphological and functional characteristics, and are found throughout the central nervous system. Astrocytes are now known to be far more than just housekeeping cells in the brain. Their functions include contributing to the formation of the blood-brain barrier, physically and metabolically supporting and communicating with neurons, regulating the formation and functions of synapses, and maintaining water homeostasis and the microenvironment in the brain. Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane proteins responsible for fast water movement across cell membranes. Various subtypes of AQPs (AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, AQP8 and AQP9) have been reported to be expressed in astrocytes, and the expressions and subcellular localizations of AQPs in astrocytes are highly correlated with both their physiological and pathophysiological functions. This review describes and summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of astrocytes and AQPs in regard to controlling water homeostasis in the brain. Findings regarding the features of different AQP subtypes, such as their expression, subcellular localization, physiological functions, and the pathophysiological roles of astrocytes are presented, with brain edema and glioma serving as two representative AQP-associated pathological conditions. The aim is to provide a better insight into the elaborate "water distribution" system in cells, exemplified by astrocytes, under normal and pathological conditions.
星形胶质细胞具有独特的形态和功能特征，遍布中枢神经系统。星形胶质细胞远不只是大脑中的“管家”细胞。它们的功能包括参与血脑屏障的形成，为神经元提供物理和代谢支持并与之交流，调节突触的形成和功能，以及维持水稳态和大脑的微环境。水通道蛋白（AQPs）是负责跨细胞膜快速水运动的跨膜蛋白。已报道各种亚型的 AQPs（AQP1、AQP3、AQP4、AQP5、AQP8 和 AQP9）在星形胶质细胞中表达，星形胶质细胞中 AQPs 的表达和亚细胞定位与其生理和病理生理功能高度相关。这篇综述描述并总结了我们对星形胶质细胞和 AQPs 在控制大脑水稳态方面的最新认识进展。本文介绍了不同 AQP 亚型的特征，如表达、亚细胞定位、生理功能以及星形胶质细胞的病理生理作用，脑水肿和神经胶质瘤作为两种具有代表性的 AQP 相关病理状况。目的是更好地了解星形胶质细胞等细胞在正常和病理条件下的精细“水分分布”系统。
