Abstract

The development mechanism of endometriosis remains unknown. Water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) enhances water flux across cell membranes, which is highly expressed and associated with cell migration, metastasis and angiogenesis in some human cancers. In this study, the role of the Wnt signaling pathway mediated by AQP1 in endometriosis was investigated, in a bid to provide new therapeutic targets for endometriosis. Microarray expression profiles were screened to acquired differentially expressed genes related to endometriosis. Mouse models with endometriosis were established and grouped. The level of endometriosis was evaluated by measurement of the volume of ectopic region. The expression of AQP1, pathway-related factors (Wnt1 and Wnt4), adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1), invasive factors (MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), angiogenic factors (VEGF-A, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) and apoptotic factors (Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax and BcL-2) was measured by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Furthermore, the role of AQP1 in adhesion, invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis of ectopic endometrial cells was determined by transfection of si-AQP1 plasmid. AQP1 was robustly expressed in endometriosis. AQP1 gene silencing alleviated the progression of endometriosis by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in mice with endometriosis. Specifically, silencing of AQP1 gene inhibited ectopic endometrial cell adhesion and invasion abilities, suppressed angiogenesis while promoted apoptosis. Collectively, the present study highlights the role of AQP1 in the regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway in endometriosis mouse models, suggesting that AQP1 could represent a new target aimed at improving the survival of patients with endometriosis.