AQP4 (D1F8E) XP^® Rabbit mAb #59678

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins that serve as channels to transfer water and small solutes across the membrane. There are 13 isoforms of AQP that are expressed in different types of cells and tissues (1,2). AQP1 is found in blood vessels, kidney, eye, and ear. AQP2 is found in the kidney, and it has been shown that the lack of AQP2 results in diabetes (1,3). AQP4 is present in the brain, where it is enriched in astrocytes (1,2,4). AQP5 is found in the salivary and lacrimal gland, AQP6 in intracellular vesicles in the kidney, AQP7 in adipocytes, AQP8 in kidney, testis, and liver, AQP9 is present in liver and leukocytes, and AQP10-11 in the intestine (1,3,4). AQPs are essential for the function of cells and organs. It has been shown that AQP1 and AQP4 regulate water homeostasis in astrocytes, preventing cerebral edema caused by solute imbalance (5). Several studies have shown the involvement of AQPs in the development of inflammatory processes, including innate and adaptive cell immunity (6,7).

AQP4 is expressed in brain cells, including neurons, but enriched in astrocytes, as well as in the peripheral nervous system (4,7). AQP4 influences synaptic plasticity and the lack of this protein in the brain may cause memory and learning impairment via glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) in Alzheimer's disease (8,9,10). It's suggested that AQP4 could play a role in the clearance of β-amyloid, and it may influence the transport of potassium and calcium in Alzheimer's disease (8,9). In Parkinson's disease, the lack of AQP4 results in an increased susceptibility of neurons from the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area for MPTP (11).