[Aquaporins--a new element in the regulation of body water homeostasis]

Abstract

Aquaporins represent an ubiquitous class of integral membrane proteins that are serving in the passage of water across cell membrane. A subset of aquaporins may additionally facilitate transmembrane permeation of small neutral solutes such as glicerol (aquaglyceroporins). The widespread occurrence and an unique function of aquaporins give rise to the high degree of their intra- and interspecies homology, especially in their regions forming the internal wall of channel. The review presents current knowledge about the role of water channels in regulation of body homeostasis basing on results of experiments with mice lacking various aquaporins genes and studies on humans with inherited or acquired abnormalities in their function as well as about potential perspectives of pharmacological regulation of aquaporin activity.