Identification of arylsulfonamides as Aquaporin 4 inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors AZA, EZA, and 4-acetamidobenzsulfonamide were found to inhibit human AQP4-M23 mediated water transport by 80%, 68%, and 23%, respectively, at 20 mu M in an in vitro functional assay. AZA was found to have an IC50 against AQP4 of 0.9 mu M. Phloretin was inactive under the same conditions. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.