The results of the present study indicated the gene expression of factors that activate the Death receptor signaling pathway, such as FASL, cleaved caspase-3, FLIP, XIAP, and p-JNK was changed by the knockdown of AQP1, suggesting that AQP1 suppresses this pathway in ESCC cells. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK8 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.