AQP4 protein

Review findings shed light on sex ratio, age of onset in NMOSD

Age at disease onset and sex ratio — the ratio of males to females — among people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are influenced by the proportion of cases with antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4). That’s according to a review study from an international team of researchers that sheds…

CMV infection may contribute to AQP4-linked NMOSD

When the immune system launches an attack to fight off a cytomegalovirus infection, immune cells may accidentally target aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a protein found at the surface of neuron-supporting cells. That’s the hypothesis suggested by researchers who analyzed the immune cell receptors of people with and without neuromyelitis optica spectrum…