title: Aquaporins in salivary glands and pancreas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salivary glands and pancreas are involved in saliva secretion, pancreatic fluid secretion and insulin secretion. These functions are essential for proper oral, pancreatic and glucose homeostasis. Aquaporins are water-permeable transmembrane protein involved in the physiology of these secretory gland functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review gives an overview of the morphology of salivary glands and pancreas, the expression and localization of aquaporins, the secretion roles and mechanisms, the physiological roles of aquaporins, and the role of aquaporins in pathophysiological conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several aquaporins are expressed in salivary glands and pancreas, and some play important physiological roles. Modulation of aquaporin expression and/or trafficking may contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases affecting salivary glands and pancreas glands such as xerostomic conditions, pancreatic insufficiencies and diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aquaporins are involved in physiological and pathophysiological processes in salivary glands and pancreas. They could represent therapeutic targets for the treatment of diseases affecting the salivary glands and pancreas. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Aquaporins.
authors: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: cdelport@ulb.ac.be.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Delporte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins
keywords: Aquaporin; Pancreas; Pathophysiology; Physiology; Salivary gland