Researchers here report on an interesting discovery relating to the way in which aquaporin-4 functions in clearance of molecular waste from the brain. An uncommon isoform of aquaporin-4 has a role in clearing excess amyloid-β, and possibly many other forms of molecular waste. Given that a failure of clearance of molecular waste from the brain is apparently involved in many neurodegenerative conditions, approaches that enhance clearance are promising. Increased amounts of this more effective isoform can be achieved via a variety of strategies in mice, and in mice engineered to generate excess amyloid-β, this results in a reduction of amyloid-β in the brain. This is quite interesting, but further work is required to determine a useful way to impleme…
Elongated Isoform of Aquaporin-4 Can Enhance Clearance of Amyloid-β from the Brain
Researchers here report on an interesting discovery relating to the way in which aquaporin-4 functions in clearance of molecular waste from the brain. An uncommon isoform of aquaporin-4 has a role in clearing excess amyloid-β, and possibly many other forms of molecular waste. Given that a failure of clearance of molecular waste from the brain is apparently involved in many neurodegenerative conditions, approaches that enhance clearance are promising. Increased amounts of this more effective isoform can be achieved via a variety of strategies in mice, and in mice engineered to generate excess amyloid-β, this results in a reduction of amyloid-β in the brain. This is quite interesting, but further work is required to determine a useful way to impleme…