• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.130-133
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• 2022

Several studies have reported a possible link between anti-aquaporin-4 antibody and vitamin B12 deficiency in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Bilaterally symmetric hyperintense signals on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the posterior columns, called the inverted V sign, are a characteristic feature of subacute combined degeneration associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. We report a patient with anti-aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMOSD and an inverted V sign on MRI of the spinal cord and address the association between anti-aquaporin-4 antibody and functional vitamin B12 deficiency.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.394-399
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• 2013

Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is used in herbal medicine in Eastern Asian countries including Korea. In this study, we assessed the effects of A. membranaceus extract (AM) on the aquaporin-3 (AQP3) protein expression in HaCaT cells. AM did not affect viability of HaCaT cells. AQP3 expression and cell migration seem to be maximal at $100{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor, PD153035, blocked AM-induced AQP3 expression and cell migration. In addition, an 80% ethanol extracts of herbal prescription, SinhyoTakleesan (ST), which is composed of A. membranaceus, Angelicae gigantis, Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne, and Lonicera japonica Flos also induced AQP3 expression at $20{\mu}g/mL$ in HaCaT cells. Collectively, these results suggest that AM induce AQP3 expression via EGFR pathway.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.62-70
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• 2019

Xylitol is well-known to have an anti-caries effect by inhibiting the replication of cariogenic bacteria. In addition, xylitol enhances saliva secretion. However, the precise molecular mechanism of xylitol on saliva secretion is yet to be elucidated. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the stimulatory effect of xylitol on saliva secretion and to further evaluate the involvement of xylitol in muscarinic type 3 receptor (M3R) signaling. For determining these effects, we measured the saliva flow rate following xylitol treatment in healthy individuals and patients with dry mouth. We further tested the effects of xylitol on M3R signaling in human salivary gland (HSG) cells using real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunostaining. Xylitol candy significantly increased the salivary flow rate and intracellular calcium release in HSG cells via the M3R signaling pathway. In addition, the expressions of M3R and aquaporin 5 were induced by xylitol treatment. Lastly, we investigated the distribution of M3R and aquaporin 5 in HSG cells. Xylitol was found to activate M3R, thereby inducing increases in $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Stimulation of the muscarinic receptor induced by xylitol activated the internalization of M3R and subsequent trafficking of aquaporin 5. Taken together, these findings suggest a molecular mechanism for secretory effects of xylitol on salivary epithelial cells.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.103-113
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• 2016

This study aimed to examine the role of two aquaporin isoforms (AQP3 and AQP8) in response to the hyperosmotic challenge of transitioning from freshwater (FW) to seawater (SW) during parr and smoltification (smolt) using the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. We examined the changes in the expression of AQPs mRNAs in the gills and intestine of the parr and smolt stages of rainbow trout transferred from FW to SW using quantitative real-time PCR in an osmotically changing environment [FW, SW, and recombinant AQP3 (rAQP3) injection at two dosage rates]. Correspondingly, AQPs were greater during smoltification than during parr stages in the rainbow trout. Plasma osmolality and gill $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase activity increased when the fish were exposed to SW, but these parameters decreased when the fish were exposed to SW following treatment with rAQP3 during the transition to seawater. Our results suggest that AQPs play an important role in water absorbing mechanisms associated with multiple AQP isoforms in a hyperosmotic environment.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.177-185
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• 2020

Although many aquaporin (AQP) transcripts have been demonstrated to express in the female reproductive tract, the defined localizations and functions of AQP subtype proteins remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP5, AQP6, and AQP9 proteins in female reproductive tract of mouse and characterized their precise localizations at the cellular and subcellular levels. Immunofluorescence analyses for AQP1, AQP3, AQP6, and AQP9 showed that these proteins were abundantly expressed in female reproductive tract and that intense immunoreactivities were observed in mucosa epithelial cells with a subtype-specific pattern. The most abundant aquaporin in both vagina and uterine cervix was AQP3. Each of AQP1, AQP3, AQP6, and AQP9 exhibited its distinct distribution in stratified squamous or columnar epithelial cells. AQP9 expression was predominant in oviduct and ovary. AQP1, AQP3, AQP6, and AQP9 proteins were mostly seen in apical membrane of ciliated epithelial cells of the oviduct as well as in both granulosa and theca cells of ovarian follicles. Most of AQP subtypes were also expressed in surface epithelial cells and glandular cells of endometrium in the uterus, but their expression levels were relatively lower than those observed in the vagina, uterine cervix, oviduct and ovary. This is the first study to investigate the expression and localization of 5 AQP subtype proteins simultaneously in female reproductive tract of mouse. Our results suggest that AQP subtypes work together to transport water and glycerol efficiently across the mucosa epithelia for lubrication, proliferation, energy metabolism and pH regulation in female reproductive tract.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.153-160
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• 2014

Adaptive development of early stage embryo is well established and recently it is explored that the mammalian embryos also have adaptive ability to the stressful environment. However, the mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, to evaluate the possible role of aquaporin in early embryo developmental adaptation, the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 5 gene which is detected during early development were examined by the environmental condition. To compare expression patterns between in vivo and in vitro, we conducted quantitative RT-PCR and analyzed localization of the AQP5 by whole mount immunofluorescence. At in vivo condition, Aqp5 expressed in oocyte and in all the stages of preimplantation embryo. It showed peak at 2-cell stage and decreased continuously until morula stage. At in vitro condition, Aqp5 expression pattern was similar with in vivo embryos. It expressed both at embryonic genome activation phase and second mid-preimplantation gene activation phase, but the fold changes were modified between in vivo embryos and in vitro embryos. During in vivo development, AQP5 was mainly localized in apical membrane of blastomeres of 4-cell and 8-cell stage embryos, and then it was localized in cytoplasm. However, the main localization area of AQP5 was dramatically shifted after 8-cell stage from cytoplasm to nucleus by in vitro development. Those results explore the modification of Aqp5 expression levels and location of its final products by in vitro culture. It suggests that expression of Aqp5 and the roles of AQP5 in homeostasis can be modulated by in vitro culture, and that early stage embryos can develop successfully by themselves adapting to their condition through modulation of the specific gene expression and localization.

• 폴리머
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.317-322
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• 2015

염분차발전은 해수와 담수가 지속적으로 공급되는 곳에 설치된다면 다른 신재생에너지원에 비해 24시간 지속적으로 전력을 생산할 수 있는 시스템이다. 발전량은 물투과도 및 염배제율에 의해 결정되기 때문에, 세포막에 존재하는 물반투과 단백질인 아쿠아포린 분리막을 이용한 압력지연삼투법을 연구하였다. 염으로는 NaCl과 이온선택성 확인을 위하여 $NaNO_3$이 사용되었다. 생체모방형 아쿠아포린 분리막의 물투과량은 2 M 이하의 농도에서 거의 나타나지 않았다. 더욱이, 3 M 이상의 농도에서 유도용액의 농도에 따른 물투과량 차이 및 이온선택도 또한 크게 나타나지 않았다. 따라서 생체모방형 아쿠아포린 분리막은 압력지연삼투 공정에 적용하기 어렵지만, 만약 이를 극복할 수 있는 구조체가 개발된다면 세포에서의 성능치를 기대할 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.363-370
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• 2007

Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has been as an model animal for studing the neurological disease such as stroke and epilepsy because of the congenital incompleteries in Willis circle, as well as the investigation of water metabolism because of the long time-survival in the condition of water-deprived desert condition, compared with other species animal. Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) expressed at the surface of principal cells in collecting duct results from an equilibrium between the AQP2 in intracellular vesicles and the AQP2 on the plasma membrane. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), which is expressed in cell in a wide range of organ, is also present in the collecting duct principal cells where this is abundant in the basolateral plasma membranes and represent potential exit pathways from the cell for water entering via AQP2. In this research, we divide 3 groups of which each group include the 5 animals. In the study of 7 or 14 days water restricted condition, we investigated the AQP2 and AQP4 by using a quantitative immunohistochemistry in the kidney. The results obtained in this study were summarized as followings. AQP2 is abundant in the apical plasma membrane and apical vesicles in the collecting duct principal cell and at rare abundance in connecting tubules. In the water-deprived Mongolian gerbil kidney, expression of AQP2 was continuosly increased in the cortical collecting duct and inner medullary collecting duct. This increase was both the apical region and cytoplasm. AQP4 is mainly expressed in the inner medulla, although some expression is also noted in the more proximal segment. In the water-deprived Mongolian gerbil kidney, AQP4 was also increased in the inner medullary collecting duct. Immunoactivity was increased in entire inner medullary collecting duct and newly detected in cytoplasm of principal cell. These findings suggest that increased levels of AQP2 and AQP4 in the cortical and inner medulalry collecting duct may play a important role for maintain fluid balance in the water-deprived kidney.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.295-301
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• 2011

아쿠아포린(aquaporin)은 MIP (Major Intrinsic Protein) 패밀리에 속하는 물 수송 채널(water transport channel) 단백질로 단세포 생물인 박테리아부터 다세포 고등생물인 인간에 이르기까지 다양한 기관계에서 잘 보존되어 있다. 아쿠아포린은 정통아쿠아포린(orthodox aquaporin)과 아쿠아글리세로포린(aquaglyceroporin)으로 구분되는데, 정통아쿠아포린은 주로 세포내의 물 유입 및 수송에 관여하며 아쿠아글리세로포린은 glycerol, polyol, urea를 비롯한 작은 비극성 분자의 수송에 관여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 최근까지 효모에서 아쿠아포린 기능이 일부 밝혀졌지만 Aspergillus 속을 포함하는 사상성 진균에서는 거의 연구가 되어있지 않은 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 A. nidulans의 유전체 염기서열 정보를 분석하여 하나의 정통아쿠아포린(aqpA)과 네 개의 아쿠아글리세로포린(aqpB-E)을 발견하였다. 이를 바탕으로 aqpA 유전자 결실돌연변이들을 만들어 그 기능을 분석하였다. aqpA 결실돌연변이는 각종 삼투 스트레스(osmotic stress)에서는 표현형의 변화가 거의 관찰되지 않았으며 이는 이들 유전자가 삼투 스트레스에 반응하지 않거나 유전자의 중복성 때문으로 여겨진다. 그러나 항진균제인 fluconazol에 대해서 그 감수성이 적어지는 것이 관찰 되었다. 이는 aqpA 유전자가 삼투스트레스 반응보다 항진균제의 감지에 더 기능을 가지고 있을 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.263-273
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• 2018

Aquaporin (AQP) 3, a facilitated transporter of water and glycerol, expresses in placenta and fetal membranes, but the detailed localization and function of AQP3 in placenta remain unclear. To elucidate a role of AQP3 in placenta, we defined the expression and cellular localization of AQP3 in placenta and fetal membranes, and investigated the structural and functional differences between wild-type and AQP3 null mice. Gestational sacs were removed during mid-gestational period and amniotic fluid was aspirated for measurements of volume and composition. Fetuses with attached placenta and fetal membranes were weighed and processed for histological assessment. AQP3 strongly expressed in basolateral membrane of visceral yolk sac cells of fetal membrane, the syncytiotrophoblasts of the labyrinthine placenta and fetal nucleated red blood cell membrane. Mice lacking AQP3 did not exhibit a significant defect in differentiation of trophoblast stem cells and normal placentation. However, AQP3 null fetuses were smaller than their control litter mates in spite of a decrease in litter size. The total amniotic fluid volume per gestational sac was reduced, but the amniotic fluid-to-fetal weight ratio was increased in AQP3 null mice compared with wild-type mice. Glycerol, free fatty acid and triglyceride levels in amniotic fluid of AQP3 null mice were significantly reduced, whereas lactate level increased when compared to those of wild-type mice. These results suggest a role for AQP3 in supplying nutrients from yolk sac and maternal blood to developing fetus by facilitating transport of glycerol in addition to water, and its implication for the fetal growth in utero.