Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy.
Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Cells. 2023 Aug 29;12(17):2170. doi: 10.3390/cells12172170.
Aquaporins (AQPs), transmembrane proteins permeable to water, are involved in gastrointestinal secretion. The secretory products of the glands are delivered either to some organ cavities for exocrine glands or to the bloodstream for endocrine glands. The main secretory glands being part of the gastrointestinal system are salivary glands, gastric glands, duodenal Brunner's gland, liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, intestinal goblet cells, exocrine and endocrine pancreas. Due to their expression in gastrointestinal exocrine and endocrine glands, AQPs fulfill important roles in the secretion of various fluids involved in food handling. This review summarizes the contribution of AQPs in physiological and pathophysiological stages related to gastrointestinal secretion.
水通道蛋白（AQP）是一种可透过水的跨膜蛋白，参与胃肠道分泌。腺体的分泌产物被输送到某些器官腔中（对于外分泌腺而言），或者输送到血液中（对于内分泌腺而言）。作为胃肠道系统的主要分泌腺，唾液腺、胃腺、十二指肠布伦纳腺、肝脏、胆管、胆囊、肠杯状细胞、外分泌和内分泌胰腺都属于此类。由于其在胃肠道外分泌和内分泌腺中的表达，AQP 在参与食物处理的各种液体分泌的生理和病理生理阶段中发挥着重要作用。本综述总结了 AQP 在与胃肠道分泌相关的生理和病理生理阶段中的作用。
