| Literature DB >> 27609277 |
Xin Yang1, Bruce R Ransom2, Jian-Fang Ma3.
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a recurrent inflammatory disease that preferentially targets the optic nerves and spinal cord. The presence of antibodies to the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4), expressed almost exclusively in astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS), is a reliable biomarker for NMO. These antibodies, NMO-IgG, may be responsible for the sequential cascade of immune events, including IgG/IgM deposition, infiltration of granulocytes and complement-mediated cytotoxicity (i.e. astrocyte loss) and demyelination. This review summarizes current thinking about the role of NMO-IgG in the pathogenesis of this condition. New insights were also generated along with important additional questions.Entities:
Keywords: Complement; Demyelination; Glutamate; Neuromyelitis optica; Potassium channel; Water channel protein aquaporin-4
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Year: 2016 PMID： 27609277 DOI： 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.06.002
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Neuroimmunol ISSN： 0165-5728 Impact factor: 3.478