title: The Neuroepithelium Disruption Could Generate Autoantibodies against AQP4 and Cause Neuromyelitis Optica and Hydrocephalus.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory disease characterized by neuritis and myelitis of the optic nerve. Its physiopathology is connected with the aquaporin-4 water channel, since antibodies against aquaporin-4 have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of neuromyelitis optica patients. The seropositivity for aquaporin-4 antibodies is used for the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease. On the other hand, aquaporin-4 is expressed in astrocyte feet in the brain-blood barrier and subventricular zones of the brain ventricles. Aquaporin-4 expression is high in cerebrospinal fluid in hydrocephalus. Furthermore, neuroepithelial denudation precedes noncommunicating hydrocephalus and this neuroepithelial disruption could allow aquaporin-4 to reach anomalous brain areas where it is unrecognized and induce the generation of aquaporin-4 antibodies which could cause the neuromyelitis optica and certain types of hydrocephalus.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castañeyra-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González-Marrero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castañeyra-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González-Toledo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación y Ciencias de Puerto del Rosario, 35600 Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castañeyra-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Perez-Molto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación y Ciencias de Puerto del Rosario, 35600 Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilia M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carmona-Calero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación y Ciencias de Puerto del Rosario, 35600 Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castañeyra-Perdomo