Aquaporin 4

                                                                

                                                                            Aquaporins

                                                  Water Channel Protein Discovered In 1991 

                                                 Nobel Prize In Chemistry In 2003 

1994 – AQP4 identified

Aquaporin-4 was cloned and characterized as the major CNS water channel, concentrated at astrocytic endfeet near the blood–brain barrier.

1994 – AQP4 identified

Aquaporin-4 was cloned and characterized as the major CNS water channel, concentrated at astrocytic endfeet near the blood–brain barrier.

                                                   Neuromyelitis Optica: Autoimmune Disease 

The Antibody Connection

• 2004 – Breakthrough by Lennon et al. (Mayo Clinic)
  Researchers discovered a serum autoantibody (NMO-IgG) present in most patients with Neuromyelitis Optica but not in Multiple Sclerosis

  • Using immunofluorescence, they saw binding to CNS microvessels, pia, and Virchow–Robin spaces.

• 2005 – Target antigen identified
  The same team showed that AQP4 was the target antigen of NMO-IgG. This was the first time a specific astrocytic water channel was linked to a human autoimmune disease.

• 
  

Snapshot