Aquaporin-4 in glymphatic system, and its implication for central nervous system disorders.

1. Neurobiol Dis. 2023 Apr;179:106035. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106035. Epub 2023 Feb 15. Aquaporin-4 in glymphatic system, and its implication for central nervous system disorders. Peng S(1), Liu J(2), Liang C(3), Yang L(1), Wang G(4). Author information: (1)56 Xinjian southern St, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basical Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China. (2)172 Tongzipo Rd, Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China. (3)56 Xinjian southern St, Department of Neurology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China. (4)56 Xinjian southern St, Department of Neurology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China; 146 JieFang forth Rd, Department of Neurology, SanYa Central Hospital (Hainan Third People's Hospital), Hainan Medical University, SanYa, Hainan 572000, China. Electronic address: wanggq08@163.com. The clearance function is essential for maintaining brain tissue homeostasis, and the glymphatic system is the main pathway for removing brain interstitial solutes. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is the most abundantly expressed aquaporin in the central nervous system (CNS) and is an integral component of the glymphatic system. In recent years, many studies have shown that AQP4 affects the morbidity and recovery process of CNS disorders through the glymphatic system, and AQP4 shows notable variability in CNS disorders and is part of the pathogenesis of these diseases. Therefore, there has been considerable interest in AQP4 as a potential and promising target for regulating and improving neurological impairment. This review aims to summarize the pathophysiological role that AQP4 plays in several CNS disorders by affecting the clearance function of the glymphatic system. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the self-regulatory functions in CNS disorders that AQP4 were involved in and provide new therapeutic alternatives for incurable debilitating neurodegenerative disorders of CNS in the future. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106035 PMID: 36796590 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.