Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 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
Aquaporin 4 molecular mimicry and implications for neuromyelitis optica
Radhika A Vaishnav1, Ruolan Liu, Joab Chapman
1Department of Neurology, University of Louisville, KY, USA.
Abstract:
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is associated with antibodies to aquaporin 4 (AQP4). We hypothesized that antibodies to AQP4 can be triggered by exposure to environmental proteins. We compared human AQP4 to plant and bacterial proteins to investigate the occurrence of significantly similar structures and sequences. High similarity to a known epitope for NMO-IgG, AQP4(207-232), was observed for corn ZmTIP4-1. NMO and non-NMO sera were assessed for reactivity to AQP4(207-232) and the corn peptide. NMO patient serum showed reactivity to both peptides as well as to plant tissue. These findings warrant further investigation into the role of the environment in NMO etiology.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Aquaporins
Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology

