[AQP4 expression in the brains of patients with glioblastoma and its association with brain edema].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in the brains of patients with glioblastoma and its association with brain edema.


METHODS
Immunofluorescence cytochemistry and western blot tests were performed to detect the expression of AQP4 in the brain tumors and the adjacent tissues in 30 patients with glioblastoma. The association between AQP4 and the extent of brain edema was analysed.


RESULTS
The AQP4 immunoreactive cells were mainly astrocytes in the brains, which were extensively distributed in the intracytoplasm. Higher expressions of AQP4 were found in the brain tumors and adjacent tissues in the patients with glioblastoma than in the normal controls (P<0.05). More AQP4 were distributed in the tumor adjacent tissues than in the tumors (P<0.05). The AQP4 was positively correlated with the extent of brain edema.


CONCLUSIONS
AQP4 overexpress in the brain tumors and adjacent tissues, which is associated with the extent of brain edema. Cytotoxic and vasogenic edemas may coexist in the cerebral edema induced by glioblastoma.
Mou
Ke-Jie
KJ
Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Mao
Qing
Q
Chen
Mi-Na
MN
Xia
Xiao-Qiang
XQ
Ni
Ren-Yong
RY
Wang
Peng
P
Liu
Yan-Hui
YH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D051401:Aquaporin 4