Fig. 9.

Schematic diagram of AQP4 mitigating plaque pathogenesis in APP/PS1 mice. We propose that genetic deletion of AQP4 that mediates paravascular interstitial Aβ clearance in APP/PS1 mice results in accelerated accumulation of Aβ in brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels, and subsequently improves synaptic degeneration and astrocyte atrophy. In addition, extensive reactive astrocytes would impair AQP4 polarity, thus impairing the efficiency Aβ clearance from paravascular space into blood and CSF