Affiliation:
1. Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
2. Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs), transmembrane proteins permeable to water, are involved in gastrointestinal secretion. The secretory products of the glands are delivered either to some organ cavities for exocrine glands or to the bloodstream for endocrine glands. The main secretory glands being part of the gastrointestinal system are salivary glands, gastric glands, duodenal Brunner’s gland, liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, intestinal goblet cells, exocrine and endocrine pancreas. Due to their expression in gastrointestinal exocrine and endocrine glands, AQPs fulfill important roles in the secretion of various fluids involved in food handling. This review summarizes the contribution of AQPs in physiological and pathophysiological stages related to gastrointestinal secretion.
Funder
Fund Octave Dupont from the Royal Academy of Belgium
Italian Government
University of Bari