title: The role of aquaporin-1 in idiopathic and drug-induced intracranial hypertension.
abstract: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a common disorder affecting mainly healthy, young, overweight women. The pathogenesis of this condition is unknown, but it has been shown to follow treatment with several compounds including corticosteroids and vitamin A derivatives. This paper will offer a novel hypothesis and insight on the pathogenesis of drug induced intracranial hypertension following a review and analysis of the literature. Both corticosteroids and vitamin A derivatives have been shown to upregulate the expression of aquaporin 1, a water channel protein. Aquaporin 1 is widely distributed in the human brain and is associated with water secretion into the subarachnoid space. Aquaporin 1 was also shown to participate in the regulation of weight. Agents used for treating idiopathic intracranial hypertension reduce aquaporin 1 expression. Based on these observations, we propose that aquaporin 1 has a pathogenetic role in drug induced idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Over expression of this gene causes increased intracranial pressure, and downregulation reduces pressure and alleviates the symptomatology and complications of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva 49100, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic address: kalishhadas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stiebel-Kalish
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eyal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D051398:Aquaporin 1; D014212:Tretinoin
keywords: AQP1; AQPs; CSF; ICP; IIH; PTC; RAR; RAREs; RXR; aquaporin 1; aquaporins; cerebrospinal fluid; idiopathic intracranial hypertension; intracranial pressure; pseudotumor cerebri; retinoic acid receptor; retinoic acid response elements; retinoid X receptor