title: Increased aquaporin 1 expression in the tunica albuginea of Peyronie's disease patients: an in vivo pilot study.
abstract: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a localized disorder of the connective tissue of the tunica albuginea (TA) whose etiology has not been elucidated. Although several studies have implicated genetic susceptibility and/or mechanical trauma as triggering events for PD, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is a water channel protein potentially implicated in connective tissue resistance to mechanical stress, acting primarily by increasing tension within the collagen network. Although it represents a potentially attractive molecular target in PD, to date no studies had ever addressed whether AQP1 is detectable and/or differentially expressed in the TA of these patients. Herein the present study, through immunohistochemical and biochemical approaches, we were able to detect AQP1 expression in the TA of control and PD affected patients. We demonstrated that AQP1-like immunoreactivity and expression are significantly increased in plaques of PD patients Vs controls, implying that AQP1 overexpression might be the consequence of a localized maladaptive response of the connective tissue to repeated mechanical trauma. In summary, these data support the idea that AQP1 might represent a potentially useful biomarker of mechanical injury in the TA and a promising target for the treatment of PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. carla.loreto@unict.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vespasiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giunta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Urology, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basic
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sansalone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D051398:Aquaporin 1