Objective: To determine whether aquaporins AQP1 and AQP5 are expressed in the alveolar capillary membrane (respiratory membrane) of rats, and to study the expression regulation of AQP1 and AQP5 in acute lung injury (ALI) rats and the effect of hormone intervention.
Method: Using affinity anti-human AQP1 and AQP5 antibodies, using immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy methods to study the distribution of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane. Intrapulmonary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to make a rat ALI animal model to study the changes of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane during ALI.
Result: Immunostaining showed that AQP1 was mainly expressed in the microvascular endothelium of normal lung tissue, while AQP5 was mainly expressed in alveolar type I epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis further showed that the expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane decreased from 4h to 48h after LPS perfusion; AQP1 protein was partially recovered 24h after LPS perfusion and after hormone intervention (P<0.05), while AQP5 did not have this recovery phenomenon.
Conclusion: The expression of AQP1 and AQP5 in the respiratory membrane decreased during ALI, suggesting that the decreased expression of AQP1 and AQP5 during ALI may be related to abnormal fluid transport.