title: Effector functions of antiaquaporin-4 autoantibodies in neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: NMO-IgG autoantibody is now considered a useful serum biomarker of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). A series of clinical and pathological observations suggest that NMO-IgG may play a central role in NMO physiopathology. Although the exact role and function of NMO-IgG in vivo remain to be determined, recent reports suggest that this antibody that targets the aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) water channel expressed by astrocytes is able to destabilize the blood-brain barrier and contribute to astrocyte and oligodendrocyte damage. This review summarizes the latest molecular effector functions attributed to the NMO-IgG/anti-AQP4 antibody and discusses their potential role in NMO pathology.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Research Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, H2L4M1, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cayrol
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saikali
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G