title: Increased aquaporin 1 and 5 membrane expression in the lens epithelium of cataract patients.
abstract: In this work we have analyzed the expression levels of the main aquaporins (AQPs) expressed in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) using 112 samples from patients treated with cataract surgery and 36 samples from individuals treated with refractive surgery, with transparent lenses as controls. Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is the main AQP, representing 64.1% of total AQPs in HLECs, with aquaporin-5 (AQP5) representing 35.9% in controls. A similar proportion of each AQP in cataract was found. Although no differences were found at the mRNA level compared to controls, a significant 1.65-fold increase (p=0.001) in AQP1protein expression was observed in HLECs from cataract patients, with the highest differences being found for nuclear cataracts (2.1-fold increase; p<0.001). A similar trend was found for AQP5 (1.47-fold increase), although the difference was not significant (p=0.161). Moreover we have shown increased membrane AQP5 protein expression in HLECs of patients with cataracts. No association of AQP1 or AQP5 expression levels with age or sex was observed in either group. Our results suggest regulation of AQP1 and AQP5 at the post-translational level and support previous observations on the implication of AQP1 and 5 in maintenance of lens transparency in animal models. Our results likely reflect a compensatory response of the crystalline lens to delay cataract formation by increasing the water removal rate.
authors: Division of Neuroscience, Biodonostia HRI, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Olatz
authors: O
authors: Barandika
authors: Division of Neuroscience, Biodonostia HRI, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Maitane
authors: M
authors: Ezquerra-Inchausti
authors: Division of Neuroscience, Biodonostia HRI, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Ander
authors: A
authors: Anasagasti
authors: Division of Neuroscience, Biodonostia HRI, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Ainara
authors: A
authors: Vallejo-Illarramendi
authors: Optical Spectroscopy Platform, CIC biomaGUNE, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Irantzu
authors: I
authors: Llarena
authors: Ophthalmology Service, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Bascaran
authors: Ophthalmology Service, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Txomin
authors: T
authors: Alberdi
authors: Ophthalmology Service, Quirónsalud Donostia Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: De Benedetti
authors: Ophthalmology Service, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Mendicute
authors: Division of Neuroscience, Biodonostia HRI, San Sebastián, Spain. Electronic address: javiruizederra@yahoo.es.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Ruiz-Ederra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051402:Aquaporin 5 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C496020:AQP1 protein, human; C496036:AQP5 protein, human; D051402:Aquaporin 5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051398:Aquaporin 1
keywords: AQP1; AQP5; Aquaporins; Cataract; Lens transparency