Prevention of orthogonal array of particles formation as a treatment approach for neuromyelitis optica.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an uncommon, life-threatening demyelinating disease that produces transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. An important pathogenetic mechanism belongs to NMO-IgG autoantibodies directed against the ultrastructure of the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4), the so-called orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs). With respect to the yet known data about OAP formation it is suggested to modulate the AQP4-M23 isoform to prevent the aggregation of AQP4 tetramers into higher organized structures. Without specific target for the NMO-IgGs the inflammation and thus the resulting demyelination may be stopped without the need for immunosuppressive agents with severe side-effects.