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Acta Pharmacologica Sinica logoLink to Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
. 2011 May 23;32(6):711–715. doi: 10.1038/aps.2011.63

Expression and function of aquaporins in peripheral nervous system

Tong-hui Ma 1,*, Hong-wen Gao 1, Xue-dong Fang 1, Hong Yang 2
PMCID: PMC4009970  PMID: 21602841

Abstract

The expression and role of the aquaporin (AQP) family water channels in the peripheral nervous system was less investigated. Since 2004, however, significant progress has been made in the immunolocalization, regulation and function of AQPs in the peripheral nervous system. These studies showed selective localization of three AQPs (AQP1, AQP2, and AQP4) in dorsal root ganglion neurons, enteric neurons and glial cells, periodontal Ruffini endings, trigeminal ganglion neurons and vomeronasal sensory neurons. Functional characterization in transgenic knockout mouse model revealed important role of AQP1 in pain perception. This review will summarize the progress in this field and discuss possible involvement of AQPs in peripheral neuropathies and their potential as novel drug targets.

Keywords: aquaporins, peripheral nervous system, neuronal transduction, gene knockout, gene expression, pain

Introduction

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water-transporting proteins selectively expressed in epithelial, endothelial and many other cell types where they play important physiological functions1, 2. In the past two decades, studies on the expression and function of AQPs in the nervous system have been focused mainly in the central nervous system. Numerous studies reported the localization of six AQPs including AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5, AQP8, and AQP9 in the brain and spinal cord3. Functional studies using transgenic knockout mouse model revealed important roles of AQP1 in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) secretion and pain sensation and AQP4 in brain edema formation, neuronal transduction, neurogenesis, glioma spreading, neuroinflammation and pain perception3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

In contrast, the expression and function of AQPs in the peripheral nervous system are less investigated. Until 2004, Matsumoto et al first described AQP1 mRNA expression in the trigeminal ganglion by the hierarchical cluster analysis of DNA microarray and in situ hybridization13. Since then, significant progress has been made in the immunolocalization, regulation and function of AQPs in the peripheral nervous system. So far studies have reported the expression of three AQPs including AQP1, AQP2, and AQP4 in peripheral neuronal or glial elements such as dorsal root ganglion neurons, enteric neurons and glial cells, periodontal Ruffini endings, trigeminal ganglion neurons and vomeronasal sensory neurons. Functional characterization in transgenic knockout mouse model suggested important role of AQP1 in peripheral pain perception. This review will summarize the progress in this field and discuss possible involvement of AQPs in peripheral neuropathies and their potential as novel drug targets.

Expression and function of AQP1 in peripheral sensory nerves

In a study to identify candidate genes involved in somatosensory functions of cranial sensory ganglia reported in 2004, Matsumoto et al first described the expression of AQP1 mRNA in neurons of somatosension-related ganglia by the hierarchical cluster analysis of DNA microarray13. Further analysis by in situ hybridization showed specific expression of AQP1 mRNA in neurons with higher frequencies in trigeminal and petrosal ganglion and with low frequency in nodose ganglia. AQP1 is expressed in small to medium size neurons with a diameter under 30 μm. The expression pattern suggested the involvement of AQP1 in somatosensation in cranial structures such as the face, oral cavity and pharynx. Although there was no protein expression data provided, this is the first report of an AQP expression in peripheral nerve.

Later on, a study conducted by Oshio et al reported AQP1 protein localization in nerve fibers in the trigeminal and sciatic nerves as well as in small neurons and nerve fibers in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in the peripheral nervous system14. Co-localization of AQP1 with substance P and capsaicin receptor TRPV1 in DRG suggested that AQP1 was expressed in C-fiber nociceptive neurons and possibly contributed to the processing of pain signals. They performed a study on the role of AQP1 in pain sensation by comparing acute pain responses to thermal, mechanical, and chemical noxious stimuli in AQP1 knockout (AQP1−/−) and wildtype (AQP1+/+) mice. Although no significant differences were found in the morphology or number of neurons expressing SP or TRPV1 in the DRG between AQP1−/− and AQP1+/+ mice, they showed that AQP1−/− mice had reduced responsiveness to thermal and capsaicin chemical stimuli, but not to mechanical stimuli or formalin14. This study was the first evidence for a role of AQP1 in pain signal transduction.

However, a following study reported by Shields et al was in marked disagreement with the above functional data15. By more sophisticated expression analysis, they found several lines of evidences suggesting the involvement of AQP1 in pain sensation including: (1) AQP1 protein is present in the spinal cord in laminae associated with nociceptive processing, (2) AQP1 is present on the membrane of DRG neurons neurochemically defined as nociceptors, (3) the onset of AQP1 expression in DRG corresponds temporally to the formation of functional synaptic contacts between nociceptors and their postsynaptic partners in the spinal cord, and (4) AQP1 labeling in the dorsal horn changes after sciatic nerve lesion, a manipulation that results in an altered pain state. They then performed in vivo electrophysiological measurements and behavioral analyses in a comprehensive battery of acute and persistent pain tests on AQP1−/− and AQP1+/+ mice to evaluate a functional role of AQP1 in nociceptive processing. Unexpectedly, they could not detect a differential phenotype suggesting a functional contribution of AQP1 to nociceptive processing in all the acute and persistent pain tests including Hargreaves test, tail flick test, Hot plate test, von Frey test of mechanical threshold, Spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain, capsaicin test, prostaglandin E2 inflammation and hypoosmolar challenge. They concluded that AQP1 was not required for normal pain processing despite its abundant and restricted expression in nociceptive primary afferent neurons.

To resolve the discrepancy for the role of AQP1 in pain physiology, Zhang and Verkman performed a study with more extensive behavioral testing as well as immunolocalization, water permeability, and patch clamp studies on freshly isolated, dissociated DRG neurons from AQP1−/− and AQP1+/+ mice16. They reported greatly reduced behavioral responses to inflammatory thermal and cold pain in litter-matched AQP1−/− mice. In mechanistic studies, they found distinct electrophysiological defects related to impaired Nav1.8 Na+ channel functioning in AQP1-deficient DRG neurons. By patch clamp, immunoprecipitation, and single particle tracking studies in transfected cell models, the researchers identified a novel AQP1-Nav1.8 interaction that may be responsible, in part, for the impaired pain sensation in AQP1 deficient mice. Based on these results, the researchers proposed potential utility of AQP1 inhibitor to reduce pain nociception as a novel strategy to achieve analgesia at the presynaptic spinal level.

It is not known why these studies generated conflict results in the same AQP1 knockout mouse model by similar approaches. More investigations will be required to establish a role of AQP1 in peripheral pain perception. Based on some recent studies that indicated functional involvement of AQP1 and AQP4 in pain perception of the central nervous system10, 11, 12, we have reason to speculate a contribution of AQP1 in certain types of peripheral pain perception.

Expression of AQP1 in enteric nervous system

Gao et al first reported the expression pattern of AQP1 in human enteric nervous system by immunolocalization in 200617. Strong AQP1 expression was identified in the submucosal and myenteric nerve plexuses in the esophagus. AQP1 was localized to the same cell population expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but clearly not to the neurons in the ganglia, indicating glial cell-specific expression. The same study also described glial selective expression of AQP1 in pancreatic ganglia. AQP4 and AQP9, which are broadly expressed in astroglial cells in brain and spinal cord, were not localized in glial cells or neurons in the peripheral nerve plexuses. The study concluded that AQPs were differentially expressed in the peripheral versus central nervous system and that channel-mediated water transport mechanisms may be involved in peripheral neuronal activity by regulating water homeostasis in the ganglia and nerve fiber bundles.

Some following studies indicated that the expression of AQP1 in the enteric nervous system exhibited species difference. Nagahama et al reported the localization of AQP1 protein in a particular neuronal subtype in the enteric nervous system of the rat ileum18. Co-localization study indicated that AQP1-positive neurons simultaneously expressed a neuronal marker HuC/D. AQP1 is expressed in a subpopulation (∼9.3%) of the HuC/D-positive neurons. AQP1-positive neurons were classified as Dogiel type I cells, which have several short processes and a single long process. Many AQP1-positive nerve fibers were also found both in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses in all regions of the ileum. The neuronal expression pattern of AQP1 in rat ileum is apparently different from the glial cell-specific expression seen in the nerve plexuses in human esophagus and pancreas17.

In consistent with the above study, Ishihara et al confirmed the localization of AQP1 in neurons and fibers of rat myenteric plexus19. Based on their analysis, AQP1 is expressed in a subpopulation (about 5.5%) of the HuC/D-positive neurons, slightly different from the data by Nagahama et al18. To study the possible involvement of AQP1 in diabetic gastrointestinal dysfunctions, the researchers examined the pathological changes in AQP1-positive neurons in streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. Although the total number of the HuC/D-positive neurons is similar between normal and STZ rats, AQP1-positive neurons in STZ rats were found to be significantly increased by two-fold (11.2% vs 5.5% in normal rats). It was also described that many AQP1-positive fibers with swollen varicosities were seen in the secondary and tertiary myenteric plexus and in the longitudinal and circular muscle layers of STZ rats. The swollen AQP1-positive varicosities and increased AQP1-positive neurons were thought to be the consequence of the long-term diabetic conditions in STZ rats. It was postulated that these pathological changes of AQP1-positive neurons possibly contribute to diabetic gastrointestinal dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Therefore, AQP1 may become a potential new therapeutic target for gastrointestinal dysfunction in diabetes.

Recently, another study by Arciszewski et al supported the presence of AQP1 in enteric neurons20. However, their results indicated AQP1 expression on submucosal but not myenteric neurons in the sheep duodenum. The vast majority of AQP1-bearing submucosal neurons were immunoreactive to substance P, suggesting that they are probably a subpopulation of sensory neurons. In both the rat and sheep studies, AQP1 expression was not detected in glial elements of submucosal plexus, which is different from the finding by Gao et al in the human esophagus17. These results further demonstrate species difference of AQP1 expression in enteric nervous system.The physiological function of AQP1 as a water channel in the enteric nervous system remains unknown. Apparently, more systematic studies are required to clarify the function as well as the expression patterns of AQP1 in the enteric nervous systems in human and different species of animal models.

Expression of AQP1 in the mechanoreceptive periodontal Ruffini endings

Nandasena et al reported the immunolocalization of AQP1 in the periodontal Ruffini endings of the rat incisors and trigeminal ganglion21. AQP1 immunostaining was detected in the axon terminals of the periodontal Ruffini endings as well as their associated terminal Schwann cells, as confirmed with a double staining with AQP1 and either a neuronal marker PGP9.5 or a glial marker S-100 protein. In addition, the study determined AQP1 expression in about 16.1% trigeminal neurons and in certain satellite cells which surrounded AQP1-positive or -negative neurons. An analysis of a cross-sectional area of these AQP1-positive neurons demonstrated that approximately 66.9% of the positive neurons were 400–1000 μm2 (averaged at 671.4±172.4 μm2), indicating that they belong to medium-sized neurons that mediate mechanotransduction. This is the first report confirming that the axon terminals of mechanoreceptors are positive for an AQP. Further investigation is needed for clarifying co-localization of SP/AQP1 or TRPV1/AQP1 in the trigeminal ganglion to determine the proportion of AQP1-positive neurons that are similar to dorsal root ganglion nociceptors. These findings suggest that AQP1 may control water transport in the periodontal Ruffini endings. But whether AQP1 is involved in neural signal transduction in the mechanoreceptive periodontal Ruffini endings remains to be determined.

Expression and regulation of AQP2 in peripheral nervous system

The first report about AQP2 expression in peripheral nervous system was seen in a study of AQP distribution in human tissue microarrays by Mobasheri et al in 200522. AQP2 was described to be expressed in peripheral nerve bundles. But no information about tissue origin was provided. In 2009, Radella's group reported two studies about regulated expression of AQP2 in rodent peripheral nerve and its possible involvement in pain transmission23, 24.

The first study analyzed the expression of AQP2 in the trigeminal ganglia in an mouse model of perioral acute inflammatory pain induced by formalin23. The data showed altered AQP2 expression in trigeminal ganglia in acute inflammatory pain. In the control group, the AQP2 immunostaining showed general labeling in the cytoplasm of each neuronal class that appeared stronger in the medium- and large-sized neurons than in the small neurons. After formalin treatment, there was a marked increase of AQP2 expression in small-sized neurons and a decrease in medium- and large-sized neurons. A strong increase of AQP2 protein in the neuronal membrane of small-sized neurons was seen, suggesting increased expression and intracellular redistribution of AQP2 mainly in small-sized neurons. The expression pattern of AQP1 in the ganglia remained unaltered after formalin treatment. Quantitative immunoblot analysis also indicated increased expression of AQP2, but not AQP1 upon formalin treatment. These data support the hypothesis that AQP2 is involved in pain transmission in the peripheral nervous system.

In the second study, they analyzed the presence and localization of AQP2 in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of normal rats and evaluated AQP2 expression in response to chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve, a model of neuropathic pain24. The results showed that although AQP2 expression was not detectable in the dorsal root ganglia of normal rats, a remarkable increase of AQP2 expression in response to chronic constriction injury treatment was seen in small-diameter neurons in dorsal root ganglia. These data suggested that AQP2 expression was involved in neuropathic nerve injuries, although its precise role remains to be determined.

The exact mechanism by which AQP2 is enhanced in DRG neurons is not clear. AQP2 is known as a regulated water channel both at protein translocation and transcriptional level in response to arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the renal collecting ducts through V2 receptor25. AVP and its V1 receptor were reported to present in DRG26, 27. It is not known whether AQP2 is regulated by AVP in DRG. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanism of pain-induced AQP2 expression and function in peripheral sensory ganglia.

Expression of AQP4 in peripheral nervous system

Role of AQP4 in the central nervous system has been a major focus in the aquaporin field. Many important functions of AQP4 have been determined including brain edema formation and absorption, pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica, hydrocephalus and pain perception3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 28. Little is known about the expression and function of AQP4 in the peripheral nervous system.

In a recent study, Thi et al identified AQP4 protein expression in the myenteric and submucosal nerve plexuses of the mouse and the rat colon by immunofluorescence29. In the myenteric plexus, about 12% in the mouse and 13% in the rat myenteric neurons were AQP4 positive as revealed by double staining of the enteric ganglia with antibodies to AQP4 and the neuronal marker NF-H (neurofilament–heavy chain 100). In the submucosal plexus, nearly 80% neurons were positive for AQP4 in both the mouse and the rat colon. Double labeling for AQP4 and the glial marker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) verified that glial cells in the enteric plexuses were not immunoreactive to AQP4. In the same study, they confirmed a neuronal distribution of AQP1 in the myenteric and the submucosal plexuses similar to that reported by Nagahama et al in the rat small intestine18. This study clearly indicated that neurons rather than glial cells contained AQP4 in the colonic nerve plexuses, providing the first evidence that AQP4 was differentially expressed in peripheral versus central nervous system. The expression of AQP4 in myenteric and submucosal neurons suggests that AQP4 may be involved in intestinal motility and the neuronal regulation of transport processes in the intestinal mucosa. The researchers did not analyze the colocalization of AQP4 with neuronal markers specific to sensory neurons. Therefore, it is not known whether AQP4 is expressed in enteric sensory neurons.

Another recent study reported by Ablimit et al identified AQP4 expression in the neuronal sensory cells of the vomeronasal organ30. Vomeronasal organ is part of the nasal chemosensory system situated at the base of the nasal septum in the anterior nasal cavity31, 32 and is anatomically and physiologically distinct from the olfactory system33, 34, 35. The sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ is composed of a sensory cell layer and supporting cell layer. AQP4 expression was highly concentrated in the sensory cells of the sensory epithelium. By immunogold electron microscopy, AQP4 protein was localized to the plasma membrane of neuronal sensory cells. Gold labeling representing AQP4 is clearly seen along the entire plasma membrane of the cell body and axons except for the apical membrane facing the surface of the lumen. In contrast to the presence of AQP4 in the axon forming the vomeronasal nerve, nerve fiber bundles running in the lamina propria of the nonsensory mucosa were negative for AQP4, suggesting a specific role of AQP4 in the neuronal transduction of the vomeronasal organ. A previous study indicated impaired olfaction in mice lacking AQP4 water channel36. Vomeronasal organ is regarded as a chemosensory organ for pheromones34. It will be interesting to study the role of AQP4 in the regulation of social behavior and sexual preference in AQP4 knockout mouse model.

Perspectives

The study on the expression and function of AQPs in the peripheral nervous system is still in an early stage although significant progress has been made in this field (summarized in Table 1). The picture on the distribution of AQP family members in the peripheral nervous system is far from complete. The precise cellular localization of AQPs in different types of peripheral nerves requires further systematic studies in human as well as model animals. The functions of AQPs in the peripheral nervous system are still largely unknown. The conflict results on the role of AQP1 in pain perception will await more investigations to clarify before AQP1 can become a drug target to reduce pain nociception. The physiological functions of AQP1 and AQP4 in enteric nerve plexuses remain to be determined. The role of AQP1 in mechanoreception requires further investigation. The mechanism of regulated AQP2 expression in neurons of peripheral sensory ganglia and its functional significance in pain transmission needs further elucidation. The physiological importance of AQP4 in sensory neurons of vomeronasal organ remains to be uncovered. More functional studies using transgenic AQP knockout mouse models or human subjects with lose-of-function mutations are required to establish the role of AQPs in the peripheral nervous system and evaluate their potential as novel drug targets for peripheral neuropathies.

Table 1. Expression and function of aquaporins in peripheral nervous system.

AQP Species Tissue Cell type Function Reference
AQP1 Human Pancreatic and enteric ganglia and nerve fiber bundles Glial cells Enteric neuronal transduction? 17
  Sheep Enteric ganglia Neurons Enteric neuronal transduction? 20
  Rat Enteric ganglia and nerve fiber bundles Neurons Diabetic gastrointestinal dysfunction? 18, 19, 29
    Incisors and trigeminal ganglia Axon terminals of periodontal Ruffini endings, terminal Schwann cells Mechanoreception? 21
  Mouse Trigeminal, petrosal, and nodose ganglia Small to medium size neurons Somatosensation in cranial structures? 13, 29
    Dorsal root ganglia Norciceptive neurons Pain sensation 14, 15, 16
AQP2 Rat Dorsal root ganglia Small-diameter neurons Neuropathic nerve injury? 24
  Mouse Trigeminal ganglia Neurons Pain transmission? 23
AQP4 Rat Enteric nerve plexus Neurons Neuronal control of intestinal motility and mucosal transport? 29
    Vomeronasal organ Neuronal sensory cells Social behavior and sexual preference? 30
  Mouse Enteric nerve plexus Neurons Neuronal control of intestinal motility and mucosal transport? 29
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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation (No 30670477), Dalian Municipal Science and Technology Fund (2008E11SF162), and National Basic Research Program of China (“973” Program, No 2009CB521908).

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