Aquaporin-4 downregulation in dysphagic patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: myofiber vulnerability and inflammation drivers.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To evaluate whether the impairment of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a water channel protein important for muscle function, may be associated with dysphagia in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). Swallowing muscle inflammation in IIM has been documented in case reports, but direct correlations with limb muscles impairment are lacking.

Methods

AQP4 was immunolocalized in limb muscle biopsies. The percentage of AQP4 expressing myofibers was compared in IIM patients with and without dysphagia, and healthy controls, and correlated with muscular strength, creatine kinase level and myositis damage index. Additionally, myosin heavy chain (fast and neonatal), cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) were immunolocalized with sarcolemma AQP4 t

SUBMITTER: Fornaro M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671875 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature