title: Analysis of aquaporin expression in liver with a focus on hepatocytes.
abstract: A deeper understanding of aquaporins (AQPs) expression and transcriptional regulation will provide useful information for liver pathophysiology. We established a complete AQPs mRNA expression profile in human and mouse liver, as well as protein localization of expressed AQPs. Additionally, the modulation of AQPs mRNA levels in response to various agents was determined in human HuH7 cells and in primary culture of mouse hepatocytes. AQP1, AQP3, AQP7, AQP8, and AQP9 mRNA and protein expressions were detected in human liver, while only AQP6 and AQP11 mRNAs were detected. We reported for the first time the localization of AQP3 in Kupffer cells, AQP7 in hepatocytes and endothelial cells, and AQP9 in cholangiocytes. In addition, we confirmed the localization of AQP1 in endothelial cells, and of AQP8 and AQP9 in hepatocytes. On HuH7 cells, we reported the presence of AQP4 mRNA, confirmed the presence of AQP3, AQP7, and AQP11 mRNAs, but not of AQP8 mRNA. On primary culture of murine hepatocytes, AQP1 and AQP7 mRNAs were identified, while the presence of AQP3, AQP8, AQP9, and AQP11 mRNAs was confirmed. At the protein level, murine endothelial liver cells expressed AQP1 and AQP9, while hepatocytes expressed AQP3, AQP7, AQP8, and AQP9, and macrophages expressed AQP3. Dexamethasone, forskolin, AICAR, rosiglitazone, octanoylated, and non-octanoylated ghrelin regulated some AQP expression in primary culture of murine hepatocytes and human HuH7 cells. Additional studies will be required to further assess the role of AQPs expression in human and murine liver and understand the transcriptional regulation of AQPs in hepatocytes under pathophysiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gregoire
authors.affiliation: Digestive Oncology Department, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Valério
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zerrad-Saadi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Myrna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virreira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nargis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bolaky
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delforge
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lemmers
authors.affiliation: Digestive Oncology Department, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Donckier
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Devière
authors.affiliation: Anatomopathology Department, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demetter
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. cdelport@ulb.ac.be.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delporte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Aquaporin; Gene expression and regulation; Hepatocytes; Human cell line; Liver; Primary culture; Protein localization