The role of Aquaporins in tumorigenesis: implications for therapeutic development.

Mohammad Zubair Alam, Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Marios Papadakis, Badrah S Alghamdi, Athanasios Alexiou, Ahmad Bakur Mahmoud, Ghulam Md Ashraf, Arkadyuti Bhattacharjee, Ankit Jana, Swagato Bhattacharjee, Sankalan Mitra, Swagata De, Zainab Al Shareef, Chan Woon-Khiong

Journal: Cell communication and signaling : CCS 2024;22(1):106

PMID: 38336645

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Abstract

Aquaporins (AQPs) are ubiquitous channel proteins that play a critical role in the homeostasis of the cellular environment by allowing the transit of water, chemicals, and ions. They can be found in many different types of cells and organs, including the lungs, eyes, brain, glands, and blood vessels. By controlling the osmotic water flux in processes like cell growth, energy metabolism, migration, adhesion, and proliferation, AQPs are capable of exerting their regulatory influence over a wide range of cellular processes. Tumour cells of varying sources express AQPs significantly, especially in malignant tumours with a high propensity for metastasis. New insights into the roles of AQPs in cell migration and proliferation reinforce the notion that AQPs are crucial players in tumour biology. AQPs have recently been shown to be a powerful tool in the fight against pathogenic antibodies and metastatic cell migration, despite the fact that the molecular processes of aquaporins in pathology are not entirely established. In this review, we shall discuss the several ways in which AQPs are expressed in the body, the unique roles they play in tumorigenesis, and the novel therapeutic approaches that could be adopted to treat carcinoma.

Address: Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA.; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore.; KoshKey Sciences Pvt Ltd, Canara Bank Layout, Karnataka, Bengaluru, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli, 560065, India.; KIIT School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT-DU), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.; Department of English, DDE Unit, The University of Burdwan, Golapbag, Burdwan, West Bengal, 713104, India.; Department of Physiology, Neuroscience Unit, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.; Pre-clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.; Pre-clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.; College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Almadinah, Almunwarah, 71491, Saudi Arabia.; College of Medicine, and Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates.; College of Health Sciences, and Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates.; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore. [email protected].; University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Chandigarh-Ludhiana Highway, Mohali, Punjab, India.; Department of Research & Development, Funogen, Athens, Greece.; Department of Research & Development, AFNP Med, 1030, Wien, Austria.; Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW, 2770, Australia.; Department of Surgery II, University Hospital Witten-Herdecke, Heusnerstrasse 40, University of Witten-Herdecke, 42283, Wuppertal, Germany. [email protected].; College of Health Sciences, and Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01459-9

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Neoplasms, Carcinogenesis, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Water, Aquaporins