Increased expression of aquaporin-4 in human traumatic brain injury and brain tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), one of the aquaporins (AQPs), in human brain specimens from patients with traumatic brain injury or brain tumors.


METHODS
Nineteen human brain specimens were obtained from the patients with traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, benign meningioma or early stage hemorrhagic stroke. MRI or CT imaging was used to assess brain edema. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate cell damage. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the AQP4 expression.


RESULTS
AQP4 expression was increased from 15 h to at least 8 d after injury. AQP4 immunoreactivity was strong around astrocytomas, ganglioglioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. However, AQP4 immunoreactivity was only found in the centers of astrocytomas and ganglioglioma, but not in metastatic adenocarcinoma derived from lung.


CONCLUSIONS
AQP4 expression increases in human brains after traumatic brain injury, within brain-derived tumors, and around brain tumors.
Hu
Hua
H
Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Yao
Hong-tian
HT
Zhang
Wei-ping
WP
Zhang
Lei
L
Ding
Wei
W
Zhang
Shi-hong
SH
Chen
Zhong
Z
Wei
Er-qing
EQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014018:Tissue Distribution
C496030:AQP4 protein, human; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D020346:Aquaporins; D015415:Biomarkers