Involvement of MAPK ERK Activation in Upregulation of Water Channel Protein Aquaporin 1 in a Mouse Model of Bell’s Palsy

The aim of this study is to immunolocalize the aquaporin 1 water channel protein (AQP1) in Schwann cells of idiopathic facial nerve and explore its possible role during the development of facial palsy induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). HSV-1 was inoculated into the surface of posterior auricle of mouse to establish a paralyzed animal model. In HSV-1-induced facial palsy mice, protein levels of AQP1 significantly increased on the 9th to 16th day after inoculation of HSV-1. The upregulation of AQP1 was closely related to the intratemporal facial nerve edema in facial nerve canal, which was also consistent with the symptom of facial palsy in mice. In a hypoxia model of Schwann cells in vitro, we found that U0126, an ERK antagonist, inhibited not only morphological changes of cultures Schwann cells but also upregulation of both AQP1 and phosphorylated ERK. Combined with increased phosphorylated ERK in HSV-1-induced facial palsy mice, we inferred that ERK MAPK pathway might also be involved in increased AQP1 in mouse model of Bell’s palsy. Although the precise mechanism needs to be further explored, our findings suggest that AQP1 in Schwann cells of intratemporal facial nerve is involved in the evolution of facial palsy induced by HSV-1 and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. AQP1 might be a potential target, and the ERK antagonist U0126 could be a new drug for the treatment of HSV-1-induced Bell’s palsy in an early stage.