Localization of aquaporins in patients with different duodenal disorders

The family of water channeling molecules – named aquaporins (AQP) – was discovered during the last decade. The expression of various aquaporins (AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP8 and recently AQP9) was demonstrated in the small intestine in animals and human. However, the exact localization of aquaporins in human duodenum in various disorders has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the localization of AQP1 and AQP4 in duodenal biopsy samples of patients suffering different diseases (e.g. duodenitis, ulcer disease and total villous atrophy). Materials and methods: Highly specific monoclonal antibody fa…