Aquaporins-2and -4regulate glycogen metabolism and survival during hyposmotic-anoxic stress inCaenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Periods of oxygen deprivation can lead to ion and water imbalances in affected tissues that manifest as swelling (edema). Although oxygen deprivation-induced edema is a major contributor to injury in clinical ischemic diseases such as heart attack and stroke, the pathophysiology of this process is incompletely understood. In the present study we investigate the impact of aquaporin-mediated water transport on survival in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of edema formation during complete oxygen deprivation (anoxia). We find that nematodes lacking aquaporin water channels in tissues that interface with the surrounding environment display decreased edema formation and improved survival rates in anoxia. We also find that these animals have significantly reduced demand for glycogen as an energetic substrate during anoxia. Together, our data suggest that reductions in membrane water permeability may be sufficient to induce a hypometabolic state during oxygen deprivation that reduces injury and extends survival limits.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 15, 2015
Source ID
10.1152/ajpcell.00131.2015

Entities

People

  • John C. Lamacchia
  • Mark Roth

Organizations

  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
  • University of Washington

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology