The Water Transport System in Astrocytes–Aquaporins
Zuoyi Zhou,
Jiangshan Zhan,
Qingyun Cai,
Fanqing Xu,
Ruichao Chai,
Kalista Lam,
Zuo Luan,
Guoying Zhou,
Sue Tsang,
Markus Kipp,
Wenling Han,
Rong Zhang,
Albert Cheung Hoi Yu
Affiliations
Zuoyi Zhou
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Jiangshan Zhan
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Qingyun Cai
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Fanqing Xu
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Ruichao Chai
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Kalista Lam
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Zuo Luan
Department of Pediatrics, Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
Guoying Zhou
Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, 1301 Guanguang Road, 3F Building 1B, Silver Star Hi-Tech Park, Shenzhen 518116, China
Sue Tsang
Hai Kang Life (Beijing) Corporation Ltd., Sino-I Campus No.1, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, Beijing 100176, China
Markus Kipp
Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Wenling Han
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, NHC Key, Peking University Center for Human Disease Genomics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Rong Zhang
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Albert Cheung Hoi Yu
Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
Astrocytes have distinctive morphological and functional characteristics, and are found throughout the central nervous system. Astrocytes are now known to be far more than just housekeeping cells in the brain. Their functions include contributing to the formation of the blood–brain barrier, physically and metabolically supporting and communicating with neurons, regulating the formation and functions of synapses, and maintaining water homeostasis and the microenvironment in the brain. Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane proteins responsible for fast water movement across cell membranes. Various subtypes of AQPs (AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, AQP8 and AQP9) have been reported to be expressed in astrocytes, and the expressions and subcellular localizations of AQPs in astrocytes are highly correlated with both their physiological and pathophysiological functions. This review describes and summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of astrocytes and AQPs in regard to controlling water homeostasis in the brain. Findings regarding the features of different AQP subtypes, such as their expression, subcellular localization, physiological functions, and the pathophysiological roles of astrocytes are presented, with brain edema and glioma serving as two representative AQP-associated pathological conditions. The aim is to provide a better insight into the elaborate “water distribution” system in cells, exemplified by astrocytes, under normal and pathological conditions.
