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Abstract #14677 Published in IGR 8-4
Aquaporins and CFTR in ocular epithelial fluid transport
Levin MH; Verkman ASJournal of Membrane Biology 2006; 210: 105-115
Aquaporins (AQPs) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) provide the molecular routes for transport of water and chloride, respectively, through many epithelial tissues. In ocular epithelia, fluid transport generally involves secondary active chloride transport, which creates the osmotic gradient to drive transepithelial water transport. This review is focused on the role of AQPs and CFTR in water and ion transport across corneal/conjunctival epithelia, corneal endothelium, ciliary epithelium, and retinal pigment epithelium. The potential relevance of water and chloride transport to common disorders of ocular fluid balance is also considered. Recent data suggest AQPs and CFTR as attractive targets for drug development for therapy of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, recurrent corneal erosions, corneal edema, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and retinal ischemia.
Dr. A.S. Verkman, Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0521, USA
Classification:
3.9 Pathophysiology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)