ReviewExpert opinion on therapeutic targets2017
The aquaporin-4 water channel as a potential drug target in neurological disorders.
Review in Expert opinion on therapeutic targets, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 103 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
103 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 185 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Role of Aquaporins in Epileptogenesis-A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Pooled it
- Ginsenoside-Rb1 for Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Preclinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2020Pooled it
- The Role of High Serum Apelin Levels Within the First 24 h in Predicting 28-Day and Long-Term Mortality in Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Aquaporin-4 mislocalization from astrocyte endfeet prolongs survival in a prion-cerebral amyloid angiopathy model.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Hydrocephalus-associated persistent pain: a preclinical investigation correlating brain fluid imbalance and sensory alterations.Fluids and barriers of the CNS · 2026Article
- Epithelial plasma membrane transporters as drug targets.Physiological reviews · 2026Review
- Detection of Diagnostic Antibodies in Immune-Mediated Diseases: A Focus on Antigens and Technologies.Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology · 2026Review
- Piezo1-mediated mechanohydraulic control of cell volume drives cardiac morphogenesis.Science advances · 2026Article
- Ketogenic Diet Modulates Cerebellar AQP4 in an Age-dependent Manner and Parallels Reduced Anxiety-like Behavior in Rats.Cerebellum (London, England) · 2026Article
- Peritumoral edema in meningiomas: a review of influencing factors, mechanisms, and management.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Potentiating Cerebral Perfusion Normalizes Glymphatic Dynamics in Systemic Inflammation.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Article
- Clearance mechanisms of the glymphatic/lymphatic system in the brain: new therapeutic perspectives for cognitive impairment.Cognitive neurodynamics · 2025Review
- Revealing Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum K25 Derived (Z)-18-Octadec-9-Enolide in Modulating Aquaporin-8 in Colorectal Cancer by Bridging the Gut Microbiome and Membrane Biology.Cell biochemistry and biophysics · 2025Article
- Glymphatic System Dysregulation as a Key Contributor to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Review
- In vivo imaging of the barrier properties of the glia limitans during health and neuroinflammation.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Aquaporin-4 in Stroke and Brain Edema-Friend or Foe?International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Aquaporin-4 inhibition alters cerebral glucose dynamics predominantly in obese animals: an MRI study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Functional and Clinical Relevance of the Crosstalk between the Glymphatic System and the Lymphatic System.Current neuropharmacology · 2025Review
- Blood-brain barrier repair: potential and challenges of stem cells and exosomes in stroke treatment.Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2025Review
43 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
introductionAquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water transporting protein expressed at the plasma membrane of astrocytes throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Analysis of AQP4 knockout mice has suggested its broad involvement in brain water balance, neuroexcitation, glial scarring, neuroinflammation, and even neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Broad clinical utility of AQP4 modulators has been speculated. Area covered: This review covers the biology of AQP4, evidence for its roles in normal CNS function and neurological disorders, and progress in AQP4 drug discovery. Expert opinion: Critical examination of available data reduces the lengthy potential applications list to AQP4 inhibitors for early therapy of ischemic stroke and perhaps for reduction of glial scarring following CNS injury. Major challenges in identification and clinical development of AQP4 inhibitors include the apparent poor druggability of AQPs, the many homologous AQP isoforms with broad tissue distribution and functions, technical issues with water transport assays, predicted undesired CNS and non-CNS actions, and the need for high blood-brain barrier permeation. To date, despite considerable effort, validated small-molecule AQP4 inhibitors have not been advanced. However, a biologic ('aquaporumab') is in development for neuromyelitis optica, an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease where CNS pathology is initiated by binding of anti-AQP4 autoantibodies to astrocyte AQP4.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.