Expression of aquaporins in rat liver regeneration

Kuo Chen Hung, Pei Min Hsieh, Chuan Yuan Hsu, Chih Wen Lin, Guan Ming Feng, Yaw Sen Chen*, Chih Hsin Hung

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The remarkable ability of liver to regenerate after insults has been harnessed by surgeons when designing techniques for liver resection or transplantation. However, the underlying mechanisms of liver regeneration are not fully clarified. On the other hand, aquaporins (AQPs) are small transmembrane proteins with unexpected physiological roles in addition to water transport. For example, they play pivotal roles in cell migration, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation, events that are also occurred during liver regeneration. We thus examined the possible involvement of AQPs in this regenerative process. Material and Methods: A two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) rat model was employed. The temporal expression of various AQPs in the liver following PH was determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. The localization of AQPs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: As anticipated, AQP0, 8, 9, and 11 were detected mainly in hepatocytes; unexpectedly, Kupffer cells were observed to express AQP8 during a specific period of time in the regenerative process. AQP9 protein was shown to be expressed in a progressively enhanced pattern at early time points after PH. A transient expression of AQP11 in the nucleus of hepatocytes was observed. Conclusion. These findings suggest the possibility that AQP might be involved in the PH-induced liver regeneration.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)676-685
Number of pages10
JournalScandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume47
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 06 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • aAquaporin
  • liver regeneration
  • partial hepatectomy

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