Aquaporin membrane channels in oxidative stress, cell signaling and aging: recent advances and research trends

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a result of aerobic metabolism and as by products through numerous physiological and biochemical processes. While ROS dependent modifications are fundamental in transducing intracellular signals controlling pleiotropic functions imbalanced ROS can cause oxidative damage, eventually leading to many chronic diseases. Also, increased ROS and reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability are main key factors in dysfunctions underlying aging, frailty, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Extensive is the investigation aimed at fully understanding the beneficial effects of ROS and NO and to provide novel insights in the current medical treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases of high epidemiological impact. This review focuses on the fast emerging topic encompassing the functional involvement of Aquaporin channel proteins (AQPs), membrane transport systems also allowing permeation of NO and hydrogen peroxide, a major ROS, in oxidative stress physiology and pathophysiology. The most recent advances regarding the modulation exerted by food phytocompounds with antioxidant action on AQPs is also reviewed.