A research update on the potential roles of aquaporin 4 in neuroinflammation

The presence of aquaporins (AQPs) in the brain has led to intense research on the underlying roles of this family of proteins under both normal and pathological conditions. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is the major water-channel membrane protein expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), primarily in astrocytes. Emerging evidence suggests that AQP4 could play an important role in water and ion homeostasis in the brain, and it has been studied in various brain pathological conditions. However, far less is known about the potential for AQP4 to influence neuroinflammation and, furthermore, its potential role in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of many clinical diseases, such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO), multiple sclerosis (MS) and brain injuries, is related to the regulation of AQP4 expression. Investigating the effects of AQP4 on microglia and astrocytes could be important to understand its role in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation. Although the exact roles of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in protection against the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation remain unclear, research into the possible neuroprotective effects of AQP4 against neuroinflammation regulation seems to be important for future investigations.