title: Aquaporin 1 expression in human temporomandibular disc.
abstract: Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of hydrophobic membrane channel proteins. The expression of several AQP isoforms has been investigated in different human tissues, including the orofacial region. However, information on the role and localization of AQP1 in joints is limited, and no data are available on aquaporins in the normal temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc. Sixteen human TMJ discs without degenerative changes were taken from fresh cadavers to investigate the presence and distribution of AQP1 by immunohistochemistry. The aim of the study was to gain additional insights into the biomolecular composition of aquaporins and their role in homeostasis of the TMJ. Porcine TMJ discs were also studied by Western blotting for comparison. Scattered AQP1 immunoexpression was detected in human disc cells, documenting its constitutive expression, but differences amongst the three disc regions were not significant. AQP1 expression was demonstrated in porcine TMJ disc by Western blotting. Our findings suggest that AQP1 is normally expressed in the TMJ disc and confirm a role for it in the maintenance of TMJ homeostasis. Further studies are needed to elucidate expression patterns of aquaporins in diseased TMJ discs.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. carla.loreto@unict.it
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lo Castro
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezzani
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.forename: Rosalia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Mugurel Constantin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rusu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051445:Fibrocartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D034421:Sus scrofa; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C496020:AQP1 protein, human; D051398:Aquaporin 1