Roles of aquaporin 4 in intracerebral hemorrhage

Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is the most abundant aquaporin type in the brain. It is mainly expressed in the perivascular end feet of astrocytes. A large number of studies have shown that AQP4 is involved in the formation and elimination of brain edema in intracerebral hemorrhage, and plays important roles in the maintenance of the integrity of blood-brain barrier, secondary neuroinflammation, and apoptosis after intracerebral hemorrhage. More and more studies focus on the roles and mechanisms of AQP4 in intracerebral hemorrhage, however, the results are not completely consistent. This article reviews the roles and mechanisms of AQP4 in intracerebral hemorrhage Key words: Cerebral Hemorrhage; Aquaporin 4; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Inflammation