Astrocytic AQP4 also has a complex bimodal function in stroke pathology: knockdown or inhibition of AQP4 in astrocytes can mediate protective effects (Hirt et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2020) or cause damage (Shi et al., 2012; Zeng et al., 2012). The gene discussed is AQP4; the disease is stroke disorder.