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Related Concept Videos

Aquaporins01:25

Aquaporins

Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers, a class of antiepileptic drugs, regulate the flow of calcium ions within neurons.
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

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The Impact of Aquaporin-4 Deletion on K<sup>+</sup>-Induced Astrocytic Swelling Depends on K<sup>+</sup> Concentration.

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Tracking Single Proteins in Lipid Bilayers Using Fluorescence Microscopy
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Aquaporin-4 and epilepsy.

Devin K Binder1, Erlend A Nagelhus, Ole Petter Ottersen

  • 1Center for Glial-Neuronal Interactions, Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0121, USA. dbinder@ucr.edu.

Glia
|March 2, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Glial cells, specifically aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels, play a role in brain excitability and epilepsy. Targeting AQP4 may offer new therapeutic strategies for epilepsy treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Epilepsy Research

Background:

  • Glial cells modulate synaptic transmission and brain excitability.
  • Alterations in astrocyte membrane proteins are linked to epilepsy.
  • Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a key glial water channel with a potential role in epilepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in brain excitability and epilepsy.
  • To discuss findings from AQP4 knockout mice and human epilepsy tissue.
  • To explore AQP4 regulation and its potential in epileptogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on AQP4 and epilepsy.
  • Analysis of studies involving AQP4-deficient mice (Aqp4(-/-)) and alpha-syntrophin knockout mice.

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Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay
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Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay

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Electrophoretic Delivery of &#x3B3;-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
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Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

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Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Tracking Single Proteins in Lipid Bilayers Using Fluorescence Microscopy
08:39

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Published on: December 12, 2025

Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay
05:45

Human Serum Anti-aquaporin-4 Immunoglobulin G Detection by Cell-based Assay

Published on: April 5, 2019

Electrophoretic Delivery of &#x3B3;-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

  • Examination of human epilepsy tissue specimens for AQP4 alterations.

    • Main Results:

    • Studies in AQP4-deficient models provide insights into AQP4's function in brain excitability.
    • Human epilepsy tissue shows alterations in AQP4 expression or localization.
    • Emerging data suggest AQP4 regulation is complex and linked to epilepsy development.

    Conclusions:

    • Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is implicated in modulating brain excitability and may contribute to epilepsy.
    • Alterations in AQP4 are observed in both animal models and human epilepsy.
    • AQP4 and its associated proteins represent potential therapeutic targets for epilepsy.