Table 2.
Reported localization and proposed physiological and pathophysiological relevance of liver aquaglyceroporins.
| Aquaglyceroporins | Cell type | Subcellular location | Suggested physiological role | Suggested pathophysiological involvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQP3 | Kupffer cells (h) | Undefined | Repopulation of Kupffer cells in liver regeneration | Kupffer cell migration and proinflammatory cytokine secretion |
| Hepatocytes (h) | Undefined | Uptake of glycerol? | Insulin resistance? | |
| Stellate cells (h) | Undefined | Cell activation | Hepatic steatosis (I148M variant) | |
| AQP7 | Hepatocytes (h, m) | Cyt; others? | TAG synthesis; uptake of glycerol? | Insulin resistance |
| Cholangiocytes (h) | APM | Unknown | ||
| Endothelial cells (h) | APM | Unknown | ||
| AQP9 | Hepatocytes (h, m, r) | BLPM | Uptake of portal glycerol (gluconeogenesis; TAG synthesis); import of water from portal blood (bile formation); urea extrusion; arsenic detoxification; liver regeneration | NAFLD; NASH; obesity; T2D; hepatocellular carcinoma |
| Cholangiocytes (h) | Undefined | Unknown | ||
| AQP10 | Hepatocytes (h) | Undefined | Exit of glycerol during lipolysis |
APM, apical plasma membrane; BLPM, basolateral plasma membrane; h, human; m, mouse; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; r, rat; TAG, triacylglycerols; T2D, type 2 diabetes mellitus.