Expression of aquaporins in the lungs of mice with acute injury caused by LPS treatment

• The increased AQP5 protein level is might be related to regulation in water reabsorption.
• The decreased AQP protein levels were associated with the apoptotic cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and AQP5 in the lungs of mice with acute injury induced by LPS treatment. In the study, the concentrations of cytokines were all significantly increased in the BALF of mice received LPS at 12 h and 24 h (P < 0.001). The lung wet/dry weight ratios (W/D) and total protein content in BALF were also increased in the mice treated with LPS (P < 0.001). Interestingly the expression of AQP1 and AQP5 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared with these in the control mice, while TUNEL positive cells were increased. However, the AQP5 expression was significantly higher at 24 h that it at 12 h in the control mice. Our results showed that decreased AQP expression was associated with the increased inflammatory factors, as well as apoptotic cells. The increased expression of AQP5 at 24 h in control mice might be due to its regulation in transcellular water reabsorption.