Publication Date:
2012-06-13
Description:
Hinson et al. (1) suggested a unique mechanism for the pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a neuroinflammatory disease caused by binding of an autoantibody (NMO-IgG) to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) on astrocyte plasma membranes. AQP4 is expressed as long (called M1) and short (called M23) isoforms, the latter forming orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs). Hinson et al. (1) reported that M1-AQP4 is rapidly internalized in cells whereas M23-AQP4 resists internalization, and that NMO-IgG inhibits AQP4 water permeability. They propose that NMO pathogenesis involves NMO-IgG–induced internalization of M1-AQP4 and direct inhibition of AQP4 water permeability, resulting in increased OAP size, enhanced complement-dependent cytotoxicity,...
Keywords:
Letters
Print ISSN:
0027-8424
Electronic ISSN:
1091-6490
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
,
Natural Sciences in General
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