Aquaporin-8 (AQP8) antibody is a research tool designed to detect and study the expression and function of aquaporin-8. a member of the aquaporin family of transmembrane water channel proteins. AQP8 facilitates the selective transport of water and small neutral solutes across cell membranes, playing roles in osmotic balance, fluid secretion, and cellular hydration. It is expressed in various tissues, including the liver, pancreas, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs, where it contributes to organ-specific physiological processes such as bile production, pancreatic secretion, and sperm motility.
AQP8 antibodies are typically developed in immunized hosts (e.g., rabbits, mice) using peptide sequences or recombinant proteins corresponding to specific epitopes of the AQP8 protein. These antibodies are validated for applications such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and flow cytometry to localize and quantify AQP8 expression in tissues or cultured cells. Researchers utilize AQP8 antibodies to investigate its involvement in pathological conditions, such as cholestasis, pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, or infertility, where dysregulation of water transport may contribute to disease mechanisms. Commercial AQP8 antibodies often specify reactivity across species (e.g., human, mouse, rat) and provide validation data (e.g., knockout controls) to ensure specificity. Despite their utility, careful optimization of experimental conditions is required to minimize cross-reactivity with other aquaporin isoforms (e.g., AQP3. AQP9) due to structural similarities within the aquaporin family.