Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) is a water channel, expressed in kidney collecting ducts (CD). It contributes importantly to water homeostasis in mammals. Considerable progress from our lab and others has been made in understanding the molecular basis of """"""""conventional"""""""" AQP2 water channel trafficking. Interesting observations from AQP2 knock out animals have revealed the presence of severe tubular defects, renal failure and neonatal mortality in addition to the expected polyuria/diabetes insipidus (DI). Tubular abnormalities and early mortality have, however, not been observed in other AQP knockout animals that also have polyuria even to a similar degree. In addition, aberrant expression of AQP2 has been frequently reported in a variety of transgenic animal models and in patients with polycystic kidney diseases with polyuria and coexisting structural and functional defects of the kidney tubules. Therefore, we hypothesize that AQP2 is important for maintaining the structural and functional integrity of kidney tubules besides regulating and maintaining water balance. We have generated compelling evidence that AQP2 is, unexpectedly, not just a water channel, but is also an integrin binding membrane protein that promotes cell migration. We have identified a conserved extracellular Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) integrin-binding motif in AQP2, through which it interacts with integrin ?1, modulates the trafficking and turnover of integrin ?1 at focal adhesions (FAs). Uncoupling of the AQP2/integrin interaction leads to reduced endocytosis, surface retention of integrin ?1 and defective cell migration and tubule formation in vitro. We wil further characterize the interaction of AQP2 and integrin during vesicular trafficking and its contribution to the turnover of focal adhesions in migrating cells (Aim I);In addition, we will examine regulatory signal(s) that mediates polarized trafficking of AQP2 to the leading edge, providing a biochemical basis of AQP2's promigratory function (Aim 2). These studies incorporate a wide battery of approaches including subcellular fractionation, FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching), TIRF (total internal reflection fluorescence), and live cell confocal fluorescence imaging to examine dynamic trafficking of integrin ?1 and AQP2. Finally, we will apply multiple model systems including embryonic kidney organ culture, transgenic zebrafish model and AQP2 knockout animals to investigate the functional significance of the AQP2/integrin interaction (Aim 3). Our hypothesis is that the AQP2/integrin interaction plays a role in mediating cell migration, and in turn contributes to kidney tubulogenesis and tubular remodeling after injury. Our studies, therefore, are designed to explore and characterize an unexpected novel mechanism mediated by AQP2 that contributes to renal epithelial cell migration and tubular repair, and to understand the critical role of AQP2 n maintaining kidney tubular structure and function.

Public Health Relevance

Maintaining normal kidney structure and function is critical for sustaining life in vertebral animals. We have proposed a study of a previously unrecognized function of a water channel protein, aquaporin 2 (AQP2) on cell migration and kidney tubule repair after injury. Our study will provide a mechanistic insight into the pathophysiology of kidne diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK096015-02
Application #
8738642
Study Section
Pathobiology of Kidney Disease Study Section (PBKD)
Program Officer
Hoshizaki, Deborah K
Project Start
2013-09-20
Project End
2018-05-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02199
Li, Wei; Jin, William W; Tsuji, Kenji et al. (2017) Ezrin directly interacts with AQP2 and promotes its endocytosis. J Cell Sci 130:2914-2925
Tsuji, Kenji; Suleiman, Hani; Miner, Jeffrey H et al. (2017) Ultrastructural Characterization of the Glomerulopathy in Alport Mice by Helium Ion Scanning Microscopy (HIM). Sci Rep 7:11696
Lu, H A Jenny (2017) Diabetes Insipidus. Adv Exp Med Biol 969:213-225
Mamuya, Fahmy A; Cano-PeƱalver, Jose Luis; Li, Wei et al. (2016) ILK and cytoskeletal architecture: an important determinant of AQP2 recycling and subsequent entry into the exocytotic pathway. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 311:F1346-F1357
Cheung, Pui W; Nomura, Naohiro; Nair, Anil V et al. (2016) EGF Receptor Inhibition by Erlotinib Increases Aquaporin 2-Mediated Renal Water Reabsorption. J Am Soc Nephrol :
Arthur, Julian; Huang, Jianmin; Nomura, Naohiro et al. (2015) Characterization of the putative phosphorylation sites of the AQP2 C terminus and their role in AQP2 trafficking in LLC-PK1 cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 309:F673-9
Rice, William L; Li, Wei; Mamuya, Fahmy et al. (2015) Polarized Trafficking of AQP2 Revealed in Three Dimensional Epithelial Culture. PLoS One 10:e0131719
Nomura, Naohiro; Nunes, Paula; Bouley, Richard et al. (2014) High-throughput chemical screening identifies AG-490 as a stimulator of aquaporin 2 membrane expression and urine concentration. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 307:C597-605
P?unescu, Teodor G; Lu, Hua A J; Russo, Leileata M et al. (2013) Vasopressin induces apical expression of caveolin in rat kidney collecting duct principal cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 305:F1783-95
Brown, Dennis; Lu, Hua A Jenny (2013) Aquaporin-2 inhibitors: fishing in the chemical pool. J Am Soc Nephrol 24:685-6

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