Aquaporins As Therapeutic Targets of Inflammation

Aquaporins (AQPs) are one of the important class of channel proteins that specifically transport water thereby maintaining the water homeostasis of the cells. Till date 13 mammalian AQP isoforms are known to be present. Certain AQPs have been known to carry out the movement of small molecules such as glycerol and urea. Owing to their function, AQPs are known to participate in a wide array of cellular processes. A number of different AQP isoforms have been found to be expressed in different cells and tissues throughout the body depending on their functions. Studies using murine models of AQP knockouts suggest the potential role of AQP in mammalian physiology such as urine concentration, glandular fluid movement, formation of edema, maintenance of intraocular pressure, migration of immune cells, phagocytosis etc. Recently, studies have been executed to evaluate the role of AQPs in the pathophysiology of various diseases with inflammatory conditions. Some common chronic inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases, peritonitis, sepsis-induced cholestasis have been known to involve AQPs. Also, studies have shown that AQP expression is modulated in a number of cell types in response to Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. Such studies propose that modulation of AQP can be promising therapy for conditions like neuroinflammation, obesity, as well as cancer. Nevertheless, effective AQP modulators for clinical applications are still to be discovered. This review is thereby intended to present information on the role of AQPs in pathophysiological processes of inflammation and therefore their potential as therapeutic target of inflammation.

@article{anuradha2026,
  author  = {Anuradha Kalita and Manas Das*},
  title   = {{Aquaporins As Therapeutic Targets of Inflammation}},
  journal = {Journal of Bioresearch},
  year    = {2026},
  volume  = {1},
  number  = {1},
}