Peroxiporins and Oxidative Stress: Promising Targets to Tackle Inflammation and Cancer

Peroxiporins are a specialized subset of aquaporins, which are integral membrane proteins primarily known for facilitating water transport across cell membranes. In addition to the classical water transport function, peroxiporins have the unique capability to transport hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a reactive oxygen species involved in various cellular signaling pathways and regulation of oxidative stress responses. The regulation of H₂O₂ levels is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis, and peroxiporins play a significant role in this process by modulating its intracellular and extracellular concentrations. This ability to facilitate the passage of H₂O₂ positions peroxiporins as key players in redox biology and cellular signaling, with implications for understanding and treating various diseases linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. This review provides updated information on the physiological roles of peroxiporins and their implications in disease, emphasizing their potential as novel biomarkers and drug targets in conditions where they are dysregulated, such as inflammation and cancer.