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Aquaporin CHIP, a 28 kDa channel forming protein, has been proposed to function as water channel in both erythrocyte and kidney proximal tubule. Recently, we have reported that in frog urinary bladder, a model of the kidney collecting tubule, polyclonal antibodies against human erythrocyte CHIP recognize and immunoprecipitate a 30 kDa protein from the epithelial cell homogenate. In the present work confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to determine the cellular and subcellular localization of CHIP28-like proteins in the urinary epithelium. A clear labeling of the apical border was found after Triton X-100 permeabilization. The labeling was distributed throughout the apical domain and not restricted to specific domains of the membrane. The staining was also present in the deeper confocal sections where the fluorescence seems to be localized at the cellular contour. No difference in the labeling patterns was observed between resting and ADH-treated bladder. Specificity of the staining was confirmed by the absence of the labeling pattern when antiserum was preadsorbed on CHIP28 protein immobilized on Immobilon P stripes. Our results suggest that CHIP-like proteins are not proteins inserted in the apical membrane during the antidiuretic response. Moreover, we do not know whether the labeling was due to the presence of CHIP28 itself or an as-yet-unidentified protein sharing immunological analogies with aquaporin CHIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike other mammalian AQPs, multiple tetramers of AQP4 associate in the plasma membrane to form peculiar structures called Orthogonal Arrays of Particles (OAPs), that are observable by freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FFEM). However, FFEM cannot give information about the composition of OAPs of different sizes, and due to its technical complexity is not easily applicable as a routine technique. Recently, we employed the 2D gel electrophoresis BN-SDS/PAGE that for the first time enabled the biochemical isolation of AQP4-OAPs from several tissues. We found that AQP4 protein is present in several higher-order complexes (membrane pools of supra-structures) which contain different ratios of M1/M23 isoforms corresponding to AQP4-OAPs of different size. In this paper, we illustrate in detail the potentiality of 2D BN/SDS-PAGE for analyzing AQP4 supra-structures, their relationship with the dystrophin glycoprotein complex and other membrane proteins, and their role as a specific target of Neuromyelitis Optica autoantibodies., (Copyright (c) 2010 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is the major water channel expressed in brain perivascular astrocyte processes. Although the role of AQP4 in brain edema has been extensively investigated, little information exists regarding its functional role at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The purpose of this work is to integrate previous and recent data regarding AQP4 expression during BBB formation and depending on BBB integrity, using several experimental models. Results from studies on the chick optic tectum, a well-established model of BBB development, and the effect of lipopolysaccharide on the BBB integrity and on perivascular AQP4 expression have been analyzed and discussed. Moreover, data on the BBB structure and AQP4 expression in murine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy are reviewed. In particular, published results obtained from mdx(3cv) mice have been analyzed together with new data obtained from mdx mice in which all the dystrophin isoforms including DP71 are strongly reduced. Finally, the role of the endothelial component on AQP4 cellular expression and distribution has been investigated using rat primary astrocytes and brain capillary endothelial cell co-cultures as an in vitro model of BBB.

Aquaporin-CHIP, a 28 kDa channel forming protein already referred to as CHIP28, has been identified as the water channel in red blood cells as well as in mammalian renal tubule cells. Another member of the aquaporin family, WCH-CD, has been found in the apical membrane of collecting duct principal cells and may represent the ADH-sensitive water channel. The present study investigates the possible presence of CHIP28-like proteins in amphibian urinary bladder, where the presence of water channels has been postulated. For this purpose, we raised polyclonal antibodies against human erythrocyte CHIP28. Immune serum precipitated a protein of about 30 kDa from the whole homogenate of urinary epithelial cells. By Western blotting, in addition to the reaction with the 30 kDa component, the immune serum reacted with higher molecular weight components from the bladder homogenate. The 30 kDa band was detected by Western blot only in bladders having a high water permeability. Moreover, a 30 kDa protein was also recognized in frog red blood cell membranes by the anti-CHIP28 antibodies. In line with the immunoblotting studies, in immunohistofluorescence anti-CHIP28 antibodies stained frog red blood cells and urinary bladder epithelial cells. However, in whole tissue water permeability studies apical treatment with the anti-CHIP28 antibodies had no effect on either the hydrosmotic response to ADH or on the basal net water flow of the bladder. All together, these results indicate the presence in the frog red blood cells and urinary epithelium of proteins sharing immunological analogies with aquaporin-CHIP.