Aquaporins in the CNS–in Honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Discovery of Aquaporins

Dear Colleagues,

Nearly 30 years have passed since the discovery of the first member of the aquaporin family by Agre and colleagues in 1992. The discovery of the aquaporins marked the end of a long-standing conundrum in biology and paved the way for a molecular understanding of secretion and absorption processes in animals, plants, and microbials.

In 1994, Agre’s and Verkman’s groups independently reported the existence of a new aquaporin cDNA which is highly expressed in brain. This aquaporin, later named AQP4, is mainly expressed in astrocytes and ependymal cells of the ventricles. Research in the following two and a half decades has shown that AQP4 plays an important role in water and ion homeostasis and is involved in pathological conditions such as brain edema, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders. A special focus has been given to the role of AQP4 in the glymphatic system and brain waste clearance in recent years. Less is known, on the other hand, about the signaling pathways regulating AQP4’s expression and function.

AQP1 and AQP9 are the other two major aquaporins demonstrated in the central nervous  system (CNS). Both AQPs are implicated in several pathological conditions, but there are still many questions around their pathophysiological relevance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to shed light on some of the central questions regarding the physiological and pathological roles of aquaporins in the CNS. We specifically welcome original articles and reviews discussing signaling pathways regulating expression, function, and pathophysiological relevance of the CNS aquaporins.  

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam
Guest Editor

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