Aquaporin-1 expression in human glial tumors suggests a potential novel therapeutic target for tumor-associated edema

Abstract

Aquaporins are membrane proteins involved in water transport in many fluid-transporting tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of aquaporins in malignant glial tumors associated with cerebral edema. Eighteen human glial tumors were obtained from the UCSF Neurosurgery Tissue Bank. Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) expression was evaluated via Western blot and immuno- histochemistry. Intense upregulation of AQP1 expression was found in all glioblastomas. The robust expression of aquaporins in glioblastomas suggests a pathologic role for these membrane water channels, and raises the possibility that selective AQP inhibition might offer a new therapeutic option for tumor-associated cerebral edema. © Springer-Verlag 2003.