2. Academic Validation
  3. Aquaporin 5 deficiency suppresses fatty acid oxidation and delays liver regeneration through the transcription factor PPAR

Aquaporin 5 deficiency suppresses fatty acid oxidation and delays liver regeneration through the transcription factor PPAR

  • J Biol Chem. 2025 Feb 11:108303. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108303.
Bin Li 1,  Shixu Liu 1,  Wenshuo Han 1,  Peirong Song 1,  Hetong Sun 1,  Xin Cao 2,  Guohu Di 3,  Peng Chen 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266071, China.
  • 2 School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266071, China. Electronic address: caoxinde123@163.com.
  • 3 School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266071, China; Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266071, China. Electronic address: diguohu@qdu.edu.cn.
  • 4 School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266071, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266121,China; Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266071, China. Electronic address: chenpeng@qdu.edu.cn.
PMID: 39947476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108303
Abstract

After 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx), the metabolic pathways leading to hepatocyte lipid droplet accumulation during liver regeneration remain unclear. Aquaporin 5 (Aqp5) is an Aquaporin that facilitates the transport of both water and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In this study, we observed a delayed liver regeneration following PHx in Aqp5 knockout (Aqp5-/-) mice. Considering the role of Aqp5 in H2O2 transport, we hypothesized that deficiency in Aqp5 may induce oxidative stress and hepatocyte injury. Through the measurement of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and redox-related indices, we observed significant alterations in ROS levels as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations in regenerating livers lacking Aqp5 compared to wild-type controls. Oil Red O and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) staining results indicated that Aqp5 deficiency caused lipid accumulation during liver regeneration. The transcriptome Sequencing results showed that the PPAR pathway is inhibited during the liver regeneration process in Aqp5 gene-knockout mice. The administration of the WY-14643 agonist, which targets the PPAR pathway, significantly mitigated delayed liver regeneration by enhancing hepatocyte proliferation and reducing lipid accumulation caused by Aqp5 deficiency. Our findings highlight the crucial role of Aqp5 in regulating H2O2 levels and lipid metabolism through the PPAR pathway during liver regeneration.

Keywords

Aqp5; Hydrogen peroxide; PPAR pathway; lipid accumulation; liver regeneration.

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