• Title/Summary/Keyword: Aquaporins

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Molecular Identification and Distribution of Aquaporins in Human and Rat Testes (사람과 흰쥐의 고환에서 Aquaporin 유전자의 발현)

  • Park, Nam-Cheol;Park, Young-Soo;Oh, Gom-Su;Jung, Jin-Sup
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.133-144
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    • 2000
  • Objective: Several water channels (aquaporins; AQP) that belong to the MIP (major intrinsic protein) family have identified. In the selected tissues including red blood cells or renal tubules, water movements are abundant and/or physiologically important. Unexpectedly, a high water permeability of human and ram sperm has been reported. Recent studies showed that AQP7 and AQP8 are present in testes, so that the high water permeability of human sperm suggested to be mediated by AQPs. Method: To identify the identity of aquaporins expressed in testes, RT-PCR was performed using degenerative primers, which were designed to correspond to highly conserved sequences surrounding the Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs in the aquaporins. New expressed AQP series were reconfirmed by immunohistochemical study using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Results: DNA sequencing of PCR products revealed that AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA as well as AQP7 and AQP8 are expressed in human and rat testes. In human and rat testes, AQP2 are expressed in spermatozoa, interstitial cells and myofibroblasts and AQP3 are expressed in myofibroblasts of semineferous tubules on immunocytochemical stain. Conclusion: These results indicate that multiple aquaporins are expressed in testes, and that they may have important roles in the spermatogenesis and the germ cell function of testis.

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Characterization and expression profiles of aquaporins (AQPs) 1a and 3a in mud loach Misgurnus mizolepis after experimental challenges

  • Lee, Sang Yoon;Nam, Yoon Kwon;Kim, Yi Kyung
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.20 no.9
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    • pp.23.1-23.9
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    • 2017
  • Two distinct cDNAs encoding aquaporins (mmAQPs 1a and 3a) were isolated and characterized from mud loach Misgurnus mizolepis. The identified mud loach AQP cDNAs encode for polypeptides of 260 and 302 amino acids. Topology predictions confirmed six putative membrane-spanning domains connected by five loops and the N- and C-terminal domains being cytoplasmic. The mud loach AQPs 1a and 3a showed broad distribution in multiple tissues including immune-responsive tissues as well as osmoregulatory tissues. Hence, the diversity of AQP distribution and expression possibly indicated its differential functions in the regulation of fluid movement in response to environmental stimuli. The transcription of mmAQP genes was differentially modulated by immune challenges. In particular, the mmAQP3a expression level in the liver was more responsive to immune challenges than that of mmAQP1a. Taken together, fish stimulation or infection resulted in significant modulation of mud loach AQP genes, suggesting potential functional roles of these proteins in piscine pathophysiological process.

Role of Homeostatic Changes in Salivary Gland Acinar Cells in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Review

  • Jin-Seok Byun
    • Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.39-44
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    • 2023
  • Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune progressive disease characterized by dysfunction and inflammation of the salivary glands. The underlying mechanisms of salivary gland involvement in pSS remain unclear, and researchers have primarily focused on immunological phenomena, making it difficult to distinguish between the cause and effect of the disease. Consequently, our research aims to directly investigate changes in homeostasis occurring in acinar cells, specifically in the context of muscarinic signaling, mucins, aquaporins, and forkhead box protein O1, to elucidate the initial step of pSS. We compare the disease-related phenomena observed in salivary gland acinar cells in pSS with the overall process of salivary secretion.