Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)

2005   Vol. 6B   No. 1   p.33-37

Increased expression of aquaporin-4 in human traumatic brain injury and brain tumors

HU Hua^1,2, YAO Hong-tian³, ZHANG Wei-ping¹, ZHANG Lei¹, DING Wei³, ZHANG Shi-hong¹, CHEN Zhong¹, WEI Er-qing^*1

(¹Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China)
(²Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China)
(³Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China)
^*E-mail: weieq2001@yahoo.com
Received July 10, 2004; revision accepted Aug. 3, 2004

Abstract: Objective: To characterize the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), one of the aquaporins (AQPs), in human brain specimens from patients with traumatic brain injury or brain tumors. Methods: Nineteen human brain specimens were obtained from the patients with traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, benign meningioma or early stage hemorrhagic stroke. MRI or CT imaging was used to assess brain edema. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate cell damage. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the AQP4 expression. Results: AQP4 expression was increased from 15 h to at least 8 d after injury. AQP4 immunoreactivity was strong around astrocytomas, ganglioglioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. However, AQP4 immunoreactivity was only found in the centers of astrocytomas and ganglioglioma, but not in metastatic adenocarcinoma derived from lung. Conclusion: AQP4 expression increases in human brains after traumatic brain injury, within brain-derived tumors, and around brain tumors.

Key words: Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), Traumatic brain injury, Astrocytoma, Ganglioglioma, Metastatic adenocarcinoma, Brain edema
doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.B0033             CLC number: R978.2; Q71