Species Human Entrez 361 | Human Mouse Ensembl ENSG00000171885 | |
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Aliases AQP4, aquaporin 4, HMIWC2, MIWC, WCH4 External IDs OMIM: 600308 MGI: 107387 HomoloGene: 37507 GeneCards: AQP4 | ||
Aquaporin 4 also known as AQP4 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the AQP4 gene. AQP4 belongs to the aquaporin family of integral membrane proteins that conduct water through the cell membrane.
Contents
Function
AQP4 is constitutively expressed in the basolateral cell membrane of principal collecting duct cells in the kidney and provide a pathway for water to exit these cells.
AQP4 is also expressed in astrocytes and is upregulated by direct insult to the central nervous system.
Pathology
Aquaporin-4 is the primary autoimmune target in neuromyelitis optica, in which AQP4-specific IgG antibodies target astrocytic AQP4, resulting in complement activation and inflammation.
References
Aquaporin 4 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA