Role of aquaporin-7 in the pathophysiological control of fat accumulation in mice.
Aquaporins are channels that allow the movement of water across the cell membrane. Some members of the aquaporin family, the aquaglyceroporins, also allow the transport of glycerol, which is involved in the biosynthesis of triglycerides and the maintenance of fasting glucose levels. Aquaporin-7 (AQP7) is a glycerol channel mainly expressed in adipocytes. The deletion of AQP7 gene in mice leads to obesity and type 2 diabetes. AQP7 modulates adipocyte glycerol permeability thereby controlling triglyceride accumulation and fat cell size. Furthermore, the coordinated regulation of fat-specific AQP7 and liver-specific AQP9 may be key to determine glucose metabolism in insulin resistance.
Rodríguez
Amaia
A
Metabolic Research Laboratory, Department of Endocrinology, Clinica Universitaria de Navarra, University of Navarra, Avda. Pio XII 36, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
Catalán
Victoria
V
Gómez-Ambrosi
Javier
J
Frühbeck
Gema
G
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*
C491927:Aqp7 protein, mouse; C491638:Aqp9 protein, mouse; D020346:Aquaporins; D005947:Glucose; D005990:Glycerol