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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4
Published on: August 21, 2017
Effector functions of antiaquaporin-4 autoantibodies in neuromyelitis optica
Romain Cayrol1, Philippe Saikali, Thierry Vincent
1Neuroimmunology Research Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, H2L4M1, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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.
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