水通道蛋白为水分子转运通过细胞膜脂质双分子层的一种膜蛋白,AQP4(aquaporin-4)为11种哺乳动物水通道蛋白之一。脑水肿是脑血管病、颅脑损伤、炎症和颅内占位等引起神经功能障碍的主要病理生理改变。目前发现AQP4参与了脑损伤后脑水肿的形成。介绍了AQP4在脑内的分布、功能、调节机制及其在脑水肿形成中的作用。 AQP4 (aquaporin-4) is one of the 11 mammalian aquaporins that transports water molecules across the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. Cerebral edema is a major pathophysiological change that causes neurological dysfunction such as cerebrovascular disease, head injury, inflammation and intracranial space occupying. It has been found that AQP4 is involved in the formation of brain edema after brain injury. The distribution, function, regulatory mechanism of AQP4 in the brain and its role in the formation of cerebral edema were introduced.