Aquaporin-4 and Brain Edema

Aquaporin is a kind of membrane protein that transports water molecules through bialyer lipid memebrane.Aquaporin-4(AQP-4) is one of 11 kinds of water-channel protein in mammalians.Trauma,stroke,brain tumor,ischemic brain injury and bleeding brain damage are often associated with the occurrence of brain edema.AQP-4 was found to play a major role in the formation of brain edema after brain damage.It not only participates metabolic transportation of water,but also impacts on astrocyte migration and neuronal excitability.The distribution and functions of AQP-4 as well as its actions in the formation of brain edema are introduced.These findings suggest that the modulation of AQP-4 structure and expression be beneficial to the treatment of several cerebral disorders,including brain edema,hydrocephalus,stroke,tumor,infection,epilepsy and traumatic brain injury.