The choroid plexus in the rise, fall and repair of the brain

Abstract

The choroid plexuses (CPs) are involved in the most-basic aspects of neural function including maintaining the extracellular milieu of the brain by actively modulating chemical exchange between the CSF and brain parenchyma, surveying the chemical and immunological status of the brain, detoxifying the brain, secreting a nutritive "cocktail" of polypeptides and participating in repair processes following trauma. This diversity of functions may mean that even modest changes in the CP can have far-reaching effects. Indeed, changes in the anatomy and physiology of the CP have been linked to aging and several CNS diseases. It is also possible that replacing diseased or transplanting healthy CP might be useful for treating acute and chronic brain diseases. This review focuses on the wide-ranging and under-appreciated functions of the CP, alterations of these functions in aging and neurodegeneration, and recent demonstrations of the therapeutic potential of transplanted CP for neural trauma.

Distinct neural stem cell tropism, early immune activation, and choroid plexus pathology following coxsackievirus infection in the neonatal central nervous system

“…The choroid plexus produces cerebral spinal fluid and regulates the entry of immune cells into the CNS across the tight junctions comprising the choroid plexus epithelial cells. 34 GFP-CVB3 protein expression was identical to our previously published data revealing the recruitment of myeloid cells, which become infected as they undergo extravasation through the choroid plexus. 14 GFP-CVB3 protein expression was also found in the SVZ at these time points.…”

Magnetic resonance imaging of viral particle biodistribution in vivo

“…Baculoviruses are known to exhibit strong tropism towards choroid plexus cells, 14 and the accumulation of iron in these cells helps to explain the MRI contrast changes in the corresponding areas of the rat brain. Even though the choroid plexus cells are known to have extensive endocytotic traffic, 23 the contrast changes could not be explained by passive endocytosis of the bUSPIO particles, as no MRI signal changes could be detected in animals receiving an equal amount of iron in a plain bUSPIO suspension. The slight blooming effect observable in spin echo images causes the region of enhanced contrast (i.e.…”

“…As human choroid plexus cells produce 500 ml CSF per day and are reported to be involved in various medical conditions 23 and even in brain regeneration, 25 the possibility of affecting the central nervous system by gene therapy via the CSF would be intriguing. As gene therapy continues to evolve towards clinical applications, 29 the need to develop more efficient vectors has become evident.…”

Neuroinflammatory response of the choroid plexus epithelium in fatal diabetic ketoacidosis

“…The numerous physiologic (Emerich et al, 2005) and immunologic (Chodobski et al, 2001) functions of the CP make it a candidate to play a role in the fatal BE of DKA. While we have no information on the onset or extent of the initial insult to the CP or the sequence of progression, we hypothesize that these neuroinflammatory factors are not involved in the initiation or early progression of subclinical BE (Hoffman et al, 1988;Durr et al, 1992), but rather during the clinical BE of DKA and may be the critical factor in a progressively edematous brain.…”