Aquaporin-1 facilitates pressure-driven water flow across the aortic endothelium.

Aquaporin-1, a ubiquitous water channel membrane protein, is a major contributor to cell membrane osmotic water permeability. Arteries are the physiological system where hydrostatic dominates osmotic pressure differences. In the present study, we show that the walls of large conduit arteries constitute the first example where hydrostatic pressure drives aquaporin-1-mediated transcellular/transendothelial flow.