水通道蛋白4（AQP4）是脑内最主要的水通道蛋白，广泛分布于脑实质与脑液体成分（脑脊液、血液）的交界处细胞膜上，AQP4的分布特点表明其可能参与调节脑组织的水分进出。近些年研究发现AQP4在脑水肿的形成与消除方面起重要作用，AQP4调节剂为临床治疗脑水肿提供新思路。该文将AQP4的结构、分布、功能和调控以及AQP4与脑水肿（血管源性和细胞毒性水肿）、AQP4抑制剂的研究进展进行综述。“,”Aquaporin 4 ( AQP4 ) is the leading water channel protein in the brain , predominantly distributed in the borders of the cell membrane between brain parenchyma and major fluid compartments ( cerebrospinal fluid and blood ) , the characteristics of distribution AQP 4 suggests that it may control water fluxes into and out of the brain .In recent years , AQP4 was found that plays a major role in the formation and elimination of brain edema , AQP4 regulator can provide the new ideas for the clinical treatment of cerebral edema .This paper mainly review the structure , distribution, function and regulation of AQP4 and the advances in AQP 4 and brain edema ( cytotoxic and vasogenic edema ) , AQP4 inhibitors .