AQP4 and ischemic stroke: At the acute phase of ischemic stroke, reactive astrocytes promote infarct progression [110], exacerbate inflammation via cytokines production [111], compromise BBB function via VEGFa production [112,113], and aggravate cytotoxic edema through stimulation of aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) channels widely expressed in astrocytic endfeet at the endothelial interface [114,115,116].