Aqp1, a member of the aquaporin family of water channel proteins, contains two NPA motifs and is present in almost all organs and tissues. It is mainly responsible for transporting water molecules across cell membranes, and may also play a role in the transport of small volatile molecules like CO2 [2,4]. Aqp1 is involved in various biological processes such as angiogenesis, and its function is crucial for maintaining normal physiological states. Genetic models, especially gene knockout models, can help further explore its functions.

In endothelial cells, Aqp1 has a differential impact on senescence hallmarks. Disrupting Aqp1 in proliferating endothelial cells can lead to senescence and impaired angiogenesis, while knocking down Aqp1 in senescent endothelial cells can rescue the excess H2O2-induced cellular senescence phenotype and metabolic dysfunction [1]. In peritoneal dialysis patients, a common Aqp1 promoter variant rs2075574 is associated with decreased ultrafiltration and an increased risk of death or technique failure. Mechanistic studies show this variant is related to decreases in Aqp1 promoter activity, aquaporin-1 expression, and glucose-driven osmotic water transport [3].

In conclusion, Aqp1 plays essential roles in processes like endothelial cell senescence regulation and peritoneal ultrafiltration. Studies using gene knockout or knockdown models have revealed its significance in these processes, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for age-related cardiovascular diseases and in improving peritoneal dialysis outcomes.

References:

1. Shabanian, Khatereh, Shabanian, Taraneh, Karsai, Gergely, Beer, Jürg H, Saeedi Saravi, Seyed Soheil. 2024. AQP1 differentially orchestrates endothelial cell senescence. In Redox biology, 76, 103317. doi:10.1016/j.redox.2024.103317. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39180980/

2. Magni, Fulvio, Chinello, Clizia, Raimondo, Francesca, Kienle, Marzia Galli, Pitto, Marina. . AQP1 expression analysis in human diseases: implications for proteomic characterization. In Expert review of proteomics, 5, 29-43. doi:10.1586/14789450.5.1.29. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18282122/

3. Morelle, Johann, Marechal, Céline, Yu, Zanzhe, Davies, Simon, Devuyst, Olivier. . AQP1 Promoter Variant, Water Transport, and Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis. In The New England journal of medicine, 385, 1570-1580. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2034279. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34670044/

4. Cooper, Gordon J, Zhou, Yuehan, Bouyer, Patrice, Grichtchenko, Irina I, Boron, Walter F. . Transport of volatile solutes through AQP1. In The Journal of physiology, 542, 17-29. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12096045/