title: Renal aquaporins and water balance disorders.
abstract: Aquaporins (AQPs) are a 13 member family (AQP0-12) of proteins that act as channels, through which water and, for some family members, glycerol, urea and other small solutes can be transported. Aquaporins are highly abundant in kidney epithelial cells where they play a critical role with respect to water balance. In this review we summarize the current knowledge with respect to the localization and function of AQPs within the kidney tubule, and their role in mammalian water homeostasis and the water balance disorders. Overviews of practical aspects with regard to differential diagnosis for some of these disorders, alongside treatment strategies are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Center for Interactions of Proteins in Epithelial Transport, Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Center for Interactions of Proteins in Epithelial Transport, Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cecilia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fuglsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Center for Interactions of Proteins in Epithelial Transport, Aarhus University, Denmark. Electronic address: robert.a.fenton@biomed.au.dk.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fenton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins
keywords: NDI; aquaporin; concentrating mechanism; nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; thiazide; vasopressin; water balance; water retention