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  • Title: IgG marker of optic-spinal multiple sclerosis binds to the aquaporin-4 water channel.
    Author: Lennon VA, Kryzer TJ, Pittock SJ, Verkman AS, Hinson SR.
    Journal: J Exp Med; 2005 Aug 15; 202(4):473-7. PubMed ID: 16087714.
    Abstract:
    Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that selectively affects optic nerves and spinal cord. It is considered a severe variant of multiple sclerosis (MS), and frequently is misdiagnosed as MS, but prognosis and optimal treatments differ. A serum immunoglobulin G autoantibody (NMO-IgG) serves as a specific marker for NMO. Here we show that NMO-IgG binds selectively to the aquaporin-4 water channel, a component of the dystroglycan protein complex located in astrocytic foot processes at the blood-brain barrier. NMO may represent the first example of a novel class of autoimmune channelopathy.
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