title: Aquaporins in Health and Disease: An Overview Focusing on the Gut of Different Species.
abstract: Aquaporins (AQPs) play a pivotal role in gut homeostasis since their distribution and function is modulated both in physiological and in pathophysiological conditions. The transport of water and solutes through gut epithelia is essential for osmoregulation and digestive and absorptive functions. This passage is regulated by different AQP isoforms and characterized by their peculiar distribution in the gastrointestinal tract. To date, AQP localization has been identified in the gut and associated organs of several mammalian species by different techniques (immunohistochemical, western blotting, and RT-PCR). The present review describes the modulation of AQP expression, distribution, and function in gut pathophysiology. At the same time, the comparative description of AQP in animal species sheds light on the full range of AQP functions and the screening of their activity as transport modulators, diagnostic biomarkers, and drug targets. Moreover, the phenotype of knockout mice for several AQPs and their compensatory role and the use of specific AQP inhibitors have been also reviewed. The reported data could be useful to design future research in both basic and clinical fields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. alpelaga@unina.it.|Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, National Research Council, Via De Amicis 95, 80131 Naples, Italy. alpelaga@unina.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelagalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. caterina.squillacioti@unina.it.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Squillacioti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. nicola.mirabella@unina.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mirabella
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy. rosaria.meli@unina.it.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins
keywords: aquaporins; gut; human and animal species; pathology; physiology