title: Expression of aquaporin 8 and its relationship with melanosis coli.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between melanosis coli (MC) and aquaporin 8 (AQP8) has not yet been elucidated. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between the expression of AQP8 and the pathological mechanism of MC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of AQP8 was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 37 MC colon tissues and 13 control colon tissues. Global gene expression analysis was also used to identify differently expressed genes. Its relationship with MC was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of AQP8 expression detected by immunohistochemistry in the MC group was 24.3% (9/37), significantly lower than the 69.2% (9/13) in the control group (P < 0.05). The relative expression level of AQP8 in MC group was 0.639 ± 0.160, lower than 0.921 ± 0.148 of controls (P < 0.05). Global gene expression analysis showed that AQP8 mRNA expression was downregulated in MC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreased AQP8 expression in MC patients indicates that chronic use of laxatives containing anthraquinone may cause reduced water absorption. The expression of AQP8 may be related to MC.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: De-An
authors: DA
authors: Tian
authors: Jun-Ping
authors: JP
authors: Wang
authors: Su-Zhen
authors: SZ
authors: Zhang
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Feng
authors: Zhi-Zhong
authors: ZZ
authors: Zhao
authors: Yu-Xia
authors: YX
authors: Hao
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; C108330:aquaporin 8