Aquaporins in Brain Disease 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

The expression of several aquaporins has been reported in the brain of mammals. Their functioning, particularly for AQP4 and AQP1, has been associated with facilitating the flow of water through brain compartments (blood, interstitial space and CSF) and plays an important role in CSF homeostasis. Recent findings revealed that the glymphatic system facilitates the clearance of fluid and waste from the brain through a mechanism that depends on the presence of AQP4 in the perivascular astroglia. Consistent with this, the loss or mislocalization of astrocyte AQP4 from perivascular locations has been observed in animal and human studies, allowing for the association of this AQP with degenerative diseases such as idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Furthermore, in different brain pathological conditions, ranging from acute brain injuries (stroke, traumatic brain injury), to edema and autoimmune demyelinating disease such as NMO, the key role of AQP4 was unveiled. Previous evidence indicates that brain AQPs may be involved in cell migration, angiogenesis and human brain tumor growth, making these proteins potential therapeutic targets by antagonizing their biological activity. To date, no specific therapeutic agents have been developed to inhibit or enhance water flow through these channels. However, experimental results strongly underline the importance of this topic for future investigations. Papers related to any aspect of aquaporin physiology and expression in the CNS, biochemistry and molecular biology aspects of brain AQPs, neurological diseases and/or animals model relating AQPs to brain pathology will be considered for this Special Issue. Experimental and up-to-date review articles and commentaries are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Pablo García-Miranda
Prof. Dr. Miriam Echevarría
Guest Editors

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• edema
• hydrocephalus
• NMO
• neurodegenerative diseases
• iNPH
• CSF
• glymphatic system
• brain tumors

• Aquaporins in Brain Disease in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (8 articles)