Aquaporin 4: a player in cerebral edema and neuroinflammation

J Neuroinflammation. 2012 Dec 27:9:279. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-9-279.

Abstract

Neuroinflammation is a common pathological event observed in many different brain diseases, frequently associated with blood brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and followed by cerebral edema. Neuroinflammation is characterized with microglia activation and astrogliosis, which is a hypertrophy of the astrocytes. Astrocytes express aquaporin 4, the water channel protein, involved in water homeostasis and edema formation. Aside from its function in water homeostasis, recent studies started to show possible interrelations between aquaporin 4 and neuroinflammation. In this review the roles of aquaporin 4 in neuroinflammation associated with BBB disruption and cerebral edema will be discussed with recent studies in the field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquaporin 4 / metabolism*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / complications
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiopathology
  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / metabolism*
  • Brain Edema / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / complications
  • Encephalitis / etiology
  • Encephalitis / metabolism*
  • Encephalitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / pathology

Substances

  • Aquaporin 4