BACKGROUNDTo investigate the expression of aquaporins in human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell line SPC-A-1.

METHODSThe expressions of aquaporin 1, aquaporin 3, aquaporin 4, and aquaporin 5 in mRNA level and their locations were determined in cell line SPC-A-1 respectively by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe immunohistochemical stain showed aquaporin 3 and aquaporin 5 located on the membrane of SPC-A-1 cell, but no positive stain of aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 4 was observed. Both aquaporin 3 and aquaporin 5 mRNA expressed in SPC-A-1 cell line, and the expression level of aquaporin 5 mRNA was significantly higher than that of aquaporin 3 mRNA ( P < 0.01). Aquaporin 1 and aquaporin 4 mRNA did not express in SPC-A-1 cell line.

CONCLUSIONSAquaporin 3 and aquaporin 5 express in SPC-A-1 cell, and their roles in water transport of SPC-A-1 cell should be further investigated.