Aquaporins: Unexpected actors in autoimmune diseases

Publication type: 
Article
Author(s): 
Christine Delporte & Muhammad Soyfoo
Citation: 

Delporte C. & Soyfoo M. (2022) Aquaporins: Unexpected actors in autoimmune diseases, Autoimmunity Reviews.

Description: 

Aquaporins (AQPs), transmembrane proteins allowing the passage of water and sometimes other small solutes and molecules, are involved in autoimmune diseases including neuromyelitis optica, Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Both autoantibodies against AQPs and altered expression and/or trafficking of AQPs in various tissue cell types as well as inflammatory cells are playing key roles in pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Detection of autoantibodies against AQP4 in the central nervous system has paved the way for a deeper understanding in disease pathophysiology as well as enabling diagnosis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the roles of AQPs in autoimmune diseases.

Year of publication : 
2022
Magazine published in: 
Autoimmunity Reviews