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Transcriptional regulation of aquaporin-3 in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

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Abstract

The expression of aquaporin (AQP) water channels may influence the development of retinal edema. We investigated the transcriptional regulation of AQP3 in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. As shown by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, cultured RPE cells express AQP3 mRNA and protein. The AQP3 mRNA level in RPE cells was elevated under the following conditions: chemical hypoxia induced by CoCl2, hyperosmolarity induced by 100 mM NaCl, and upon stimulation of the cultures with PDGF, arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2, and blood serum, respectively. Chemical hypoxia increased AQP3 gene expression through MEK/ERK and JNK activation. The hyperosmolarity-, PDGF-, and serum-induced upregulation of AQP3 was prevented by inhibition of the phospholipase A2, but not by inhibition of the cyclooxygenase. Triamcinolone acetonide prevented the upregulation of AQP3 induced by arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2, but not by the other factors tested. It is concluded that AQP3 is transcriptionally activated in RPE cells by various pathogenic factors involved in the development of retinal edema in situ. Activation of phospholipase A2 is a critical factor which induces AQP3 in RPE cells.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Franziska Rickers for excellent technical assistance. This study was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KO 1547/6-1) and the Geschwister Freter Stiftung (Hannover, Germany).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Margrit Hollborn, Peter Wiedemann, Andreas Bringmann & Leon Kohen

  2. Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Elke Ulbricht & Andreas Reichenbach

  3. Helios Klinikum Aue, Aue, Germany

    Leon Kohen

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  1. Margrit Hollborn
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  2. Elke Ulbricht
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  3. Andreas Reichenbach
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  4. Peter Wiedemann
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  5. Andreas Bringmann
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  6. Leon Kohen
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Correspondence to Margrit Hollborn.

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Hollborn, M., Ulbricht, E., Reichenbach, A. et al. Transcriptional regulation of aquaporin-3 in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Mol Biol Rep 39, 7949–7956 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1640-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1640-x

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