title: Aquaporin-1 expression in proliferative vitreoretinopathy and in epiretinal membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is involved in cell migration and proliferation; therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate its expression in proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and epiretinal membranes (ERM).
  
  
  METHODS
  19 membranes from PVR and ERM were collected following eye surgery. AQP1 mRNA and protein expressions were determined by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence in the membranes from PVR and ERM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AQP1 mRNA and protein were expressed in both PVR and ERM as shown by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. AQP1 protein expression was heterogeneous among and between PVR and ERM and colocalized with alpha-smooth muscle actin ( α SMA) and with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). There were a higher percentage of cells coexpressing AQP1 and α SMA than AQP1 and GFAP. GFAP and α SMA did not colocalize.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show for the first time AQP1 expression in both PVR and ERM. AQP1 is expressed mostly by the α SMA-positive cells, presumably myofibroblasts, but also by GFAP-positive cells, assumed to be glial cells. These original findings warrant further functional investigations aiming at studying the potential role of AQP1 in cell migration and proliferation occurring during the development of PVR and ERM.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium ; Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium ; Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Motulsky
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dany
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium ; Department of Ophthalmology, Saint-Anne Saint-Rémi Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium ; Department of Ophthalmology, Saint-Anne Saint-Rémi Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pion
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dufrane
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaput
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nargis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bolaky
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gregoire
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caspers
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium ; Department of Ophthalmology, CHU Brugmann, Brussels, Belgium ; I.R.I.B.H.M., Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Willermain
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Blg G/E, CP 611, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0385-5824
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delporte
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051398:Aquaporin 1