title: Aquaporin 4 expression and tissue susceptibility to neuromyelitis optica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the predilection for optic nerve and spinal cord pathologic changes in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). OBJECTIVE TO evaluate tissue-specific expression (RNA and protein) and supramolecular aggregation of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in mouse, rat, and human tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory analysis of mouse, rat, and human tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissues from control individuals and 1 patient with NMO obtained at autopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuromyelitis optica in the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue-specific messenger RNA and protein expression and supramolecular aggregation of AQP4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AQP4 messenger RNA and proteins were much more highly expressed in the optic nerve and spinal cord relative to other regions of the brain and to non-central nervous system tissues in all species evaluated. Large supramolecular aggregates of AQP4 were overrepresented in the optic nerve and spinal cord relative to other central nervous system tissue. There was no difference in AQP4 expression between an individual with NMO and the control samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optic nerve tissue from an individual with NMO did not differ in AQP4 expression from control samples. The relatively high levels of expression and of supramolecular aggregation in the optic nerve and spinal cord may contribute to the predilection of these structures to NMO pathologic changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matiello
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaefer-Klein
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Weinshenker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001323:Autoantibodies