Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease
The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of small integral membrane proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transport of water across biological membranes in response to osmotic pressure gradients as well as enable the transmembrane diffusion of small neutral solutes (such as urea, glycerol, and hydrog...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/3/1388 |
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| author | Kim Wagner Lucas Unger Mootaz M. Salman Philip Kitchen Roslyn M. Bill Andrea J. Yool |
| author_facet | Kim Wagner Lucas Unger Mootaz M. Salman Philip Kitchen Roslyn M. Bill Andrea J. Yool |
| author_sort | Kim Wagner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of small integral membrane proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transport of water across biological membranes in response to osmotic pressure gradients as well as enable the transmembrane diffusion of small neutral solutes (such as urea, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide) and ions. AQPs are expressed throughout the human body. Here, we review their key roles in fluid homeostasis, glandular secretions, signal transduction and sensation, barrier function, immunity and inflammation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Evidence from a wide variety of studies now supports a view of the functions of AQPs being much more complex than simply mediating the passive flow of water across biological membranes. The discovery and development of small-molecule AQP inhibitors for research use and therapeutic development will lead to new insights into the basic biology of and novel treatments for the wide range of AQP-associated disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b612862a5094f07b7a1f8137261fb7b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:47:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b612862a5094f07b7a1f8137261fb7b2023-11-23T16:39:41ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-01-01233138810.3390/ijms23031388Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and DiseaseKim Wagner0Lucas Unger1Mootaz M. Salman2Philip Kitchen3Roslyn M. Bill4Andrea J. Yool5School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, AustraliaCollege of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UKDepartment of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UKCollege of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UKCollege of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UKSchool of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, AustraliaThe aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of small integral membrane proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transport of water across biological membranes in response to osmotic pressure gradients as well as enable the transmembrane diffusion of small neutral solutes (such as urea, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide) and ions. AQPs are expressed throughout the human body. Here, we review their key roles in fluid homeostasis, glandular secretions, signal transduction and sensation, barrier function, immunity and inflammation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Evidence from a wide variety of studies now supports a view of the functions of AQPs being much more complex than simply mediating the passive flow of water across biological membranes. The discovery and development of small-molecule AQP inhibitors for research use and therapeutic development will lead to new insights into the basic biology of and novel treatments for the wide range of AQP-associated disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/3/1388aquaporin (AQP)membraneswaterfluidsecretionosmosis |
| spellingShingle | Kim Wagner Lucas Unger Mootaz M. Salman Philip Kitchen Roslyn M. Bill Andrea J. Yool Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease International Journal of Molecular Sciences aquaporin (AQP) membranes water fluid secretion osmosis |
| title | Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease |
| title_full | Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease |
| title_fullStr | Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease |
| title_short | Signaling Mechanisms and Pharmacological Modulators Governing Diverse Aquaporin Functions in Human Health and Disease |
| title_sort | signaling mechanisms and pharmacological modulators governing diverse aquaporin functions in human health and disease |
| topic | aquaporin (AQP) membranes water fluid secretion osmosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/3/1388 |
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