Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (4): 534-537.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.180372

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The choroid plexus-cerebrospinal fluid interface in Alzheimer’s disease: more than just a barrier

Sriram Balusu1, 2, #, Marjana Brkic1, 2, 3, #, Claude Libert1, 2, #, Roosmarijn E. Vandenbroucke1, 2, #, *   

  1. 1 Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
    2 Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
    3 Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
  • Received:2016-02-01 Online:2016-04-30 Published:2016-04-30
  • Contact: Roosmarijn E. Vandenbroucke, Ph.D., Roosmarijn.Vandenbroucke@irc.VIB-UGent.be
  • Supported by:

    This research was supported by the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), the Concerted Research Actions (GOA) of Ghent University, the Belgian Science Policy (Interuniversity Attraction Pools - IAP7/07), the Belgain Foundation of Alzheimer’s Researoh (SAO), the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Grant ON173056) and COST Action BM1402.

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Abstract:

The choroid plexus is a complex structure which hangs inside the ventricles of the brain and consists
mainly of choroid plexus epithelial (CPE) cells surrounding fenestrated capillaries. These CPE cells not
only form an anatomical barrier, called the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), but also present an
active interface between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CPE cells perform indispensable functions
for the development, maintenance and functioning of the brain. Indeed, the primary role of the choroid
plexus in the brain is to maintain homeostasis by secreting CSF which contains different molecules, such as
nutrients, neurotrophins, and growth factors, as well as by clearing toxic and undesirable molecules from
CSF. The choroid plexus also acts as a selective entry gate for leukocytes into the brain. Recent findings have
revealed distinct changes in CPE cells that are associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease. In this review,
we review some recent findings that highlight the importance of the CPE-CSF system in Alzheimer’s disease
and we summarize the recent advances in the regeneration of brain tissue through use of CPE cells as a
new therapeutic strategy.

Key words: Alzheimer's disease, choroid plexus, brain barrier, blood-CSF barrier, aging, neurodegenerative diseases