Expression and localization of aquaporin-1 in human cirrhotic liver.
We investigated the expression and localization of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhotic human liver tissues. The expression of AQP-1 at the protein and mRNA levels was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting in normal and HBV-associated cirrhotic human liver tissues. The correlation with the expression of CK19, CK7 and AQP-1 was also compared. AQP-1 staining was strongly and uniformly positive in mature bile ducts, isolated hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) and ductular reactions. Scattered intermediate hepatocyte-like cells expressed AQP-1, which are often intimately associated with CK7 positive hepatocytes. However, the number of AQP-1+ intermediate hepatocyte-like cells was lower than that of CK7+ cells, and such positivity was rarely seen on stains for CK19. When compared with normal liver tissues, AQP-1 was overexpressed at both the mRNA and protein levels in the cirrhotic liver tissues. AQP-1 was overexpressed in the cirrhotic liver tissues. AQP-1, similar to CK19, might be a more specific and more sensitive marker than CK7 for the identification of HPCs.
Xian
Zhi-Hong
ZH
Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China. xianzh7210@163.com
Cong
Wen-Ming
WM
Wang
Yan-Hua
YH
Wang
Bin
B
Wu
Meng-Chao
MC
D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D048430:Cell Shape; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051398:Aquaporin 1