Abstract
Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and AQP2 are important proteins involved in the regulation of renal water handling. Both AQPs have been found in urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) (uEV-AQP1 and -AQP2). Cisplatin, an antineoplastic agent, is known to down-regulate renal AQP1 and AQP2. However, the effect of cisplatin on the release of uEV-AQP1 and -AQP2 is largely unknown. In this study, we examined whether treatment of rats with cisplatin affected the release of uEV-AQP1 and -AQP2. Blood tests indicated that renal function was little altered at 24 h after cisplatin treatment but thereafter decreased dramatically at all of the other time points examined. Release of uEV-AQP1 was slightly increased at 24 h and decreased at 168 h. On the other hand, release of uEV-AQP2 was decreased dramatically at 24 h, and the decrease was maintained during the experimental period. These data suggest that uEV-AQP2 can be used to detect early renal impairment due to cisplatin. Furthermore, a combination of uEV-AQP2 and -AQP1 may be useful for estimation of cisplatin-induced renal injury in a stage-dependent manner.