Aquaporin-4 Functionality and Virchow-Robin Space Water Dynamics: Physiological Model for Neurovascular Coupling and Glymphatic Flow
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UC Davis UC Davis Previously Published Works Title Aquaporin-4 Functionality and Virchow-Robin Space Water Dynamics: Physiological Model for Neurovascular Coupling and Glymphatic Flow. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2rr5f0jj Journal International journal of molecular sciences, 18(8) ISSN 1422-0067 Authors Nakada, Tsutomu Kwee, Ingrid L Igarashi, Hironaka et al. Publication Date 2017-08-18 DOI 10.3390/ijms18081798 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Aquaporin-4 Functionality and Virchow-Robin Space Water Dynamics: Physiological Model for Neurovascular Coupling and Glymphatic Flow Tsutomu Nakada 1,2,* ID , Ingrid L. Kwee 1,2, Hironaka Igarashi 1 ID and Yuji Suzuki 1 ID 1 Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Niigata 951-8585, Japan; [email protected] (I.L.K.); [email protected] (H.I.); [email protected] (Y.S.) 2 Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, VANCHCS, Martinez, CA 94553, USA * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +81-25-227-0677; Fax: +81-25-227-0821 Received: 23 July 2017; Accepted: 16 August 2017; Published: 18 August 2017 Abstract: The unique properties of brain capillary endothelium, critical in maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and restricting water permeability across the BBB, have important consequences on fluid hydrodynamics inside the BBB hereto inadequately recognized. Recent studies indicate that the mechanisms underlying brain water dynamics are distinct from systemic tissue water dynamics. Hydrostatic pressure created by the systolic force of the heart, essential for interstitial circulation and lymphatic flow in systemic circulation, is effectively impeded from propagating into the interstitial fluid inside the BBB by the tightly sealed endothelium of brain capillaries. Instead, fluid dynamics inside the BBB is realized by aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), the water channel that connects astrocyte cytoplasm and extracellular (interstitial) fluid. Brain interstitial fluid dynamics, and therefore AQP-4, are now recognized as essential for two unique functions, namely, neurovascular coupling and glymphatic flow, the brain equivalent of systemic lymphatics. Keywords: Hagen-Poiseuille equation; starling resister; rCBF; interstitial flow; glia limitans externa 1. Introduction: Blood-Brain Barrier The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the result of unique properties of brain capillary endothelium, namely the presence of tight junctions and active suppression of aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression, the water channel abundantly expressed in common capillaries and choroid plexus epithelium [1–4]. The BBB effectively isolates the brain from the systemic environment through its selectivity. Brain capillary endothelium has no fenestrations, and has highly restricted permeability to ions and water as evidenced by a significantly high electrical resistance [5,6]. There is virtually no non-specific transcellular and paracellular diffusion of hydrophilic compounds across the BBB. Instead, brain capillary endothelium has specifically localized receptors and transporters responsible for the active transport of nutrients to the brain interstitium. Tight junctions of the brain endothelial cells are structurally similar to epithelial tight junctions. The major transmembrane proteins in tight junctions include occludins and claudins [5]. While some accessory proteins specific to brain endothelium, such as cingulin, AF-6 and 7H6, have been identified, other epithelial tight junction proteins have thus far not been detected. Epithelial tight junctions, including choroid plexus epithelial cells, mostly contain claudin-1, -2 and -11. By contrast, brain endothelial tight junctions primarily express claudin-3 and -5. Accumulating evidence indicates that claudin-3 and -5, together with occludin, is responsible for controlling BBB paracellular permeability [5,6]. Thus far, only claudin-2, which is found on so-called leaky epithelium but not brain endothelium, has been shown to be a water channel [7]. Considering that expression of AQP-1, abundant in common Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1798; doi:10.3390/ijms18081798 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1798 2 of 14 Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1798 2 of 14 capillaries and choroid plexus epithelium, is actively suppressed in brain capillary endothelium [2,3], it is capillary endothelium [2,3], it is consonant that claudin‐2 is also absent in the tight junctions of brain consonant that claudin-2 is also absent in the tight junctions of brain capillary endothelium (Figure1). capillary endothelium (Figure 1). Studies to date have not identified any specific passage for water to the BBB. It appears that Studies to date have not identified any specific passage for water to the BBB. It appears that water entry into the inside of the BBB is non-specific, presumably slow movement through the lipid water entry into the inside of the BBB is non‐specific, presumably slow movement through the lipid membrane [8]. It follows that brain fluid dynamics would be distinct from systemic fluid dynamics. membrane [8]. It follows that brain fluid dynamics would be distinct from systemic fluid dynamics. We present here a brief review of the recent findings on the physiological and molecular mechanisms We present here a brief review of the recent findings on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of brain fluid dynamics and its impact on two essential processes, namely, neurovascular coupling and of brain fluid dynamics and its impact on two essential processes, namely, neurovascular coupling glymphatic flow. and glymphatic flow. Figure 1.1. Capillaries.Capillaries. Common Common capillaries capillaries have have a aleaky leaky endothelium endothelium due due to to the presence ofof fenestrations.fenestrations. The The water channel aquaporin-1aquaporin‐1 (AQP (AQP-1)‐1) is also abundantlyabundantly expressed.expressed. Accordingly, waterwater dynamics between between intracapillary intracapillary and and interstitial interstitial fluid fluid space space is isdirectly directly connected connected (right). (right). In Incontrast, contrast, brain brain capillaries capillaries lack lackfenestrations fenestrations and have and havetight junctions. tight junctions. Expression Expression of AQP of‐1 is AQP-1 actively is activelysuppressed. suppressed. As a result, As water a result, dynamics water dynamics in the intr inacapillary the intracapillary space and space interstitial and interstitial fluid space fluid are spaceeffectively are effectively isolated from isolated each fromother each and othermust andbe analyzed must be independently. analyzed independently. Modified from Modified Reference from Reference[9]. [9]. 2. Blood Flow Dynamics 2.1. Basics Classic blood flowflow dynamicsdynamics cancan bebe givengiven byby thethe Hagen-PoiseuilleHagen‐Poiseuille equationequation wherewhere volumetricvolumetric blood flow,flow, FΦ,, isis givengiven as:as: p DP 4 F = ∆ R Φ =8h L 8 where DP is pressure loss (differences in inflow and outflow pressure), L is the length of the vessel tube,whereh ΔisP blood is pressure viscosity, loss and (differencesR is the radius in inflow of the and vessel outflow [10]. pressure), L is the length of the vessel tube,Under η is blood physiological viscosity, conditions,and R is theL radiusand h ofcan the be vessel treated [10]. as constant, and regional blood flow, Fr, withinUnder the unit physiological area can be conditions, given as: L and η can be treated as constant, and regional blood flow, Φr, 4 within the unit area can be given as: Fr ∼ DP · R In the systemic circulation, the autonomicΦ nervous~∆ ∙ system is responsible for Fr by controlling both DP andIn theR through systemic neural circulation, and/or the chemical autono controlmic nervous of contractile system structuresis responsible of cardiac for Φr and by controlling circulatory systems.both ∆P Inand contrast, R through capillaries neural lack and/or contractile chemical structures control and, of contractile therefore, capillary structures blood of cardiac flow cannot and becirculatory directly controlled systems. In by contrast, the autonomic capillaries nervous lack system. contractile Although structures contractile and, therefore, function ofcapillary pericytes blood and itsflow neurotransmitter cannot be directly control controlled has been by proposed the autonomi [11], consideringc nervous system. its common, Although wide spreadcontractile functionality function relatedof pericytes to angiogenesis and its neurotransmitter and stem cell control like behavior has been [12 ],proposed it is difficult [11], toconsidering accept that its pericytes common, are wide the primaryspread functionality structural component related to forangiogenesis flow regulation. and stem It is, cell therefore, like behavior highly [12], plausible it is difficult to consider to accept that that pericytes are the primary structural component for flow regulation. It is, therefore, highly Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, 1798 3 of 14 capillary flow dynamics are a passive phenomenon which are significantly affected by the architectural properties of the capillaries per se. 2.2. Common Capillaries and Tissue Perfusion Common capillaries in the systemic circulation have a leaky endothelium. Water flow between intra-capillary and interstitial fluid is relatively free and follows the forces defined by the Starling equation: Jv = LpS [Pc − Pi] − s pp