Change in the AQP1 Gene Expression After Ischemia-Reperfusion in the Liver of Mice

Background and Aim: Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury usually occursduring organ transplantation. Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembranechannels that facilitate water permeability through cell membranesand are essential for the regulation of water homeostasis. Changes inthe AQPs expression have been correlated with several inflammatorydiseases. Less is known about the effect of ischemia-reperfusion on theAQPs gene expression. To clarify the role of AQPs in IR injury, in thisstudy we investigated the gene expression pattern of AQP1 in the liverafter IR injury.Methods: Male bulb/c mice were exposed to partial (70%) hepaticischemia for 65 minutes and then randomized into five groups ofreperfusions [ 0 h (A), 8 h (B), 1 day (C), 3 days (D), and 7 days (E)]. Asurgical group was also selected as the sham group. Serum and livertissue samples were collected for evaluation of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and liver histopathology. RealtimePCR was performed to evaluate the AQP1 gene expression.Results: We observed a significant increase in ALT and AST (P˂0.05)compared to sham mice in each group. The gene expression of AQP1was significantly increased in the IR group compared with the shamgroup (P˂0.05). After 8 hours (group B) showed the highest geneexpression in comparison with other groups. Pathologic changes in theliver after reperfusion were confirmed the IR. In the IR group cytoplasmic vacuolization, inflammatory cell infiltration and focal necrosis weredetected.Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings indicated that the ischemiareperfusioninjury in the liver can change the expression of AQP1gene, which can interfere with hepatocellular homeostasis and theirfunction. Upregulation of AQP1 could contribute to the development ofhepatocellular swelling after hepatic IR injury.

Keywords:

Ischemia , Reperfusion , AQP , Liver , Hepatocyte