Three main demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system, namely multiple sclerosis (MS), aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (AQP4+NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG associated disease (MOGAD), can induce spinal cord inflammation through different pathogenic mechanisms, resulting in a more or less profound disruption of spinal cord integrity. The gene discussed is AQP4; the disease is neuromyelitis optica.