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The choroid plexus in the rise, fall and repair of the brain
Author(s) -
Emerich Dwaine F.,
Skinner Stephen J.M.,
Borlongan Cesario V.,
Vasconcellos Alfred V.,
Thanos Chistopher G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20193
Subject(s) - choroid plexus , neuroscience , brain function , neurodegeneration , parenchyma , biology , central nervous system , medicine , pathology , disease
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. BioEssays 27:262–274, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.