Comprehensive exploration of the expression and prognostic value of AQPs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of membrane water channels that facilitate the passive transport of water across the plasma membrane of cells in response to osmotic gradients created by the active transport of solutes. Water-selective AQPs are involved in tumor angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and growth. However, the polytype expression patterns and prognostic values of eleven AQPs in clear cell Renal Cell Cancer (ccRCC) have yet to be filled. We preliminarily investigated the transcriptional expression, survival data and immune infiltration of AQPs in patients with renal cell cancer via the Oncomine database, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, UALCAN cancer database, and cBioPortal databases. The ethical approval was waived by the local ethics committee of Peking University People's Hospital for the natural feature of mine into databases. The mRNA expression of AQP1/2/3/4/5/6/7/11 was significantly decreased in ccRCC patients. Meanwhile, MIP and AQP1/2/4/6/7/8/9/11 are notably related to the clinical stage or pathological grade of ccRCC. Lower levels of AQP1/3/4/5/7/10 expression were related to worse overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with ccRCC. The AQP mutation rate was 25% in ccRCC patients, but genetic alterations in AQPs were unlikely to be associated with OS and disease free survival in ccRCC patients. In addition, the expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP4 and AQP10 was positively correlated with immune cells, and the expression of AQP6, AQP7 and AQP11 was negatively correlated with immune cells. AQP9 had a strong and significantly positive correlation with multiple immune cells. Abnormal expression of AQPs in ccRCC indicated the prognosis and immunomodulatory state of ccRCC. Further study needs to be performed to explore AQPs as new biomarkers for ccRCC.

Automated summary

This study preliminarily investigated the transcriptional expression, survival data, and immune infiltration of AQPs in ccRCC patients. The results showed that the expression levels of multiple AQPs were decreased in ccRCC, and they were associated with clinical stage, pathological grade, and overall survival of patients. AQP mutations did not have a significant impact on patient survival. Furthermore, the expression of certain AQPs was correlated with immune cell infiltration, suggesting the involvement of AQPs in the immunomodulatory state of ccRCC. Further research is needed to explore AQPs as potential biomarkers for ccRCC.