Abnormal distribution of aquaporin-5 in salivary glands in the NOD mouse model for Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To localize aquaporin-5 in healthy salivary gland acinar cells and to check if it is abnormally translocated in an experimental NOD mouse model for Sjögren's syndrome (SS).


METHODS
Healthy BALB/c control mice and autoimmune focal adenitis NOD mice were studied. Aquaporin-5 was stained using avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex and indirect immunofluorescence staining methods, and visualized using light and laser scanning confocal microscopy.


RESULTS
Aquaporin-5 was found in the apical domain of the acinar cell plasma membrane in healthy BALB/c mice. In contrast, aquaporin-5 was found in the apical and basolateral acinar plasma cell membrane in parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands in NOD mice. This was confirmed using laser scanning confocal microscopy for optical sectioning and image reconstruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings reveal an abnormal translocation of aquaporin-5 in an experimental SS animal model and support observations that implied a similar loss of the ordered and polarized expression of aquaporin-5 in human SS labial and lacrimal glands.
Konttinen
Yrjö T
YT
Department of Medicine/Invärtes medicin, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. yrjo.konttinen@helsinki.fi
Tensing
Eve-Kai
EK
Laine
Mikael
M
Porola
Pauliina
P
Törnwall
Jyrki
J
Hukkanen
Mika
M
D000818:Animals; D051402:Aquaporin 5; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity
C496038:Aqp5 protein, mouse; D051402:Aquaporin 5; D020346:Aquaporins; D008565:Membrane Proteins