Differential expression of aquaporin-4 in human gastric normal and cancer tissues

Background and objective. -Aquaporine-4 (AQP4) is a member of the water channel protein family, which is thought to be associated with tumor development. A recent work suggests that AQP play key rotes in tumor biology. Methods. - In this study, we measured the expression and localization of AQP4 in 60 gastric epithelial. tumor cases and 10 normal tissue cases by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. Results. -AQP4 protein and mRNA expression Level in gastric cancer tissue were significantly lower than those in normal gastric tissue. No significant variations were found according to TNM stage, histological type, grade and distant metastasis. Conclusion. - Our results suggest that the expression of AQP4 is a marker of normal proliferating gastric epithelial. cells. More cases and further research may be necessary to elucidate their exact rote in normal or pathologic proliferation and/or differentiation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. ALL rights reserved.