MOMAST ® Downregulates AQP3 Expression and Function in Human Colon Cells.

The water channel AQP3 is an aquaglyceroporin expressed in villus epithelial cells, and it plays a role in water transport across human colonic surface cells. Beyond water, AQP3 can mediate glycerol and H ₂ O ₂ transport. Abnormal expression and function of AQP3 have been found in various diseases often characterized by altered cell growth and proliferation. Here, the beneficial effects of MOMAST ^® have been evaluated. MOMAST ^® is an antioxidant-patented natural phenolic complex obtained from olive wastewater (OWW) of the Coratina cultivar. Treatment of human colon HCT8 cells with MOMAST ^® reduced cell viability. Confocal studies and Western Blotting analysis demonstrated that treatment with MOMAST ^® significantly decreased the staining and the expression of AQP3. Importantly, functional studies revealed that the reduction of AQP3 abundance correlates with a significant decrease in glycerol and H ₂ O ₂ uptake. Indeed, the H ₂ O ₂ transport was partially but significantly reduced in the presence of MOMAST ^® or DFP00173, a selective inhibitor of AQP3. In addition, the MOMAST ^® -induced AQP3 decrease was associated with reduced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins such as vimentin and β-catenin. Together, these findings propose MOMAST ^® as a potential adjuvant in colon diseases associated with abnormal cell growth by targeting AQP3.