title: Aquaporins in drug discovery and pharmacotherapy.
abstract: Identification of the aquaporin (AQP) protein family more than twenty years ago has ushered in an era where water and neutral solute trafficking is considered a prime target for pharmacological intervention. Using AQP modulation as a basis for the treatment of human disorders has been suggested by phenotype analysis involving specific AQP-null animals, as well as by pathohistological studies. Based on those reports, a wide variety of disorders, such as cerebral edema, cancer and malaria, are considered indications for AQP modulators. Recent studies have also identified several small molecule AQP modulators that can be used to test those hypotheses in disease models. We believe these studies and compounds form the basis from which future treatments and diagnostic protocols of aquaporin-based disorders will be developed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, 1 Asahi Machi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8585, Japan. vjhuber@bri.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsujita
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakada
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002034:Bumetanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C558003:2-(nicotinamide)-1,3,4-thiadiazole; D020346:Aquaporins; D013830:Thiadiazoles; D014867:Water; D002034:Bumetanide; D009536:Niacinamide; D000086:Acetazolamide