Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes
Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is the most abundant water channel in the central nervous system (CNS). Its expression is confined to non-neuronal glial cells, predominantly to astrocytes that represent a heterogeneous glial cell type in the CNS. The membrane of astrocyte processes, which align brain capillaries...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/12/2622 |
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| author | Jernej Jorgačevski Robert Zorec Maja Potokar |
| author_facet | Jernej Jorgačevski Robert Zorec Maja Potokar |
| author_sort | Jernej Jorgačevski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is the most abundant water channel in the central nervous system (CNS). Its expression is confined to non-neuronal glial cells, predominantly to astrocytes that represent a heterogeneous glial cell type in the CNS. The membrane of astrocyte processes, which align brain capillaries and pia, is particularly rich in AQP4. Several isoforms of AQP4 have been described; however, only some (AQP4a (M1), AQP4 c (M23), AQP4e, and AQP4ex) have been identified in the plasma membrane assemblies of astrocytes termed orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs). Intracellular splicing isoforms (AQP4b, AQP4d, AQP4f, AQP4-Δ4) have been documented, and most of them are postulated to have a role in the cell surface distribution of the plasma membrane isoforms and in the formation of OAPs in murine and human astrocytes. Although OAPs have been proposed to play various roles in the functioning of astrocytes and CNS tissue as a whole, many of these still need to be described. OAPs are studied primarily from the perspective of understanding water permeability regulation through the plasma membrane and of their involvement in cell adhesion and in the dynamics of astrocytic processes. This review describes the cellular distribution of various AQP4 isoforms and their implications in OAP assembly, which is regulated by several intracellular and extracellular proteins. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:17:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-139d947bc59345f483dfc20333c0cf37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:17:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-139d947bc59345f483dfc20333c0cf372023-11-20T23:42:16ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092020-12-01912262210.3390/cells9122622Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in AstrocytesJernej Jorgačevski0Robert Zorec1Maja Potokar2Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology—Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaLaboratory of Neuroendocrinology—Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaLaboratory of Neuroendocrinology—Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaAquaporin 4 (AQP4) is the most abundant water channel in the central nervous system (CNS). Its expression is confined to non-neuronal glial cells, predominantly to astrocytes that represent a heterogeneous glial cell type in the CNS. The membrane of astrocyte processes, which align brain capillaries and pia, is particularly rich in AQP4. Several isoforms of AQP4 have been described; however, only some (AQP4a (M1), AQP4 c (M23), AQP4e, and AQP4ex) have been identified in the plasma membrane assemblies of astrocytes termed orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs). Intracellular splicing isoforms (AQP4b, AQP4d, AQP4f, AQP4-Δ4) have been documented, and most of them are postulated to have a role in the cell surface distribution of the plasma membrane isoforms and in the formation of OAPs in murine and human astrocytes. Although OAPs have been proposed to play various roles in the functioning of astrocytes and CNS tissue as a whole, many of these still need to be described. OAPs are studied primarily from the perspective of understanding water permeability regulation through the plasma membrane and of their involvement in cell adhesion and in the dynamics of astrocytic processes. This review describes the cellular distribution of various AQP4 isoforms and their implications in OAP assembly, which is regulated by several intracellular and extracellular proteins.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/12/2622aquaporin 4 (AQP4)astrocytegliaorthogonal arrays of particles (OAP)brain edemacell migration |
| spellingShingle | Jernej Jorgačevski Robert Zorec Maja Potokar Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes Cells aquaporin 4 (AQP4) astrocyte glia orthogonal arrays of particles (OAP) brain edema cell migration |
| title | Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes |
| title_full | Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes |
| title_fullStr | Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes |
| title_short | Insights into Cell Surface Expression, Supramolecular Organization, and Functions of Aquaporin 4 Isoforms in Astrocytes |
| title_sort | insights into cell surface expression supramolecular organization and functions of aquaporin 4 isoforms in astrocytes |
| topic | aquaporin 4 (AQP4) astrocyte glia orthogonal arrays of particles (OAP) brain edema cell migration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/12/2622 |
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