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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay
Published on: April 5, 2019
Differential expression of aquaporin-4 isoforms localizes with neuromyelitis optica disease activity
Harleen Saini1, Gregory Fernandez, Douglas Kerr
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Abstract:
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a devastating neuroinflammatory disorder that specifically targets the spinal cord and optic nerves. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is the target of the NMO-IgG biomarker. AQP4 is expressed as two isoforms: M1 and M23, which have different functions in the central nervous system (CNS). We characterized the expression pattern of these AQP4 isoform mRNAs in humans and found a pattern of AQP4 expression that correlates with NMO disease localization. The ratio of M1:M23 mRNA is highest in the optic nerve and spinal cord, followed by brainstem, then the cerebral and cerebellar cortices.
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