Premium
Choroid plexus transplants in the treatment of brain diseases
Author(s) -
Skinner Stephen J.M.,
Geaney Marilyn S.,
Rush Robert,
Rogers MaryLouise,
Emerich Dwaine F.,
Thanos Christopher G.,
Vasconcellos Alfred V.,
Tan Paul L.J.,
Elliott Robert B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
xenotransplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1399-3089
pISSN - 0908-665X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2006.00310.x
Subject(s) - choroid plexus , lesion , neurotrophin , neurotrophic factors , medicine , neuroscience , cerebrospinal fluid , central nervous system , pathology , biology , receptor
The choroid plexus (CP) produces and secretes numerous biologically active neurotrophic factors into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). These circulate throughout the brain and spinal cord, maintaining neuronal networks and associated cells. In neurodegenerative disease and in acute brain injury there is local up‐regulation of neurotrophin production close to the site of the lesion. Treatment by direct injection of neurotrophins and growth factors close to these lesion sites has repeatedly been demonstrated to improve recovery. It has therefore been proposed that transplanting viable choroid plexus cells close to the lesion might provide a novel means for continuous delivery of these molecules directly to the site of injury. Recent publications describe how transplanted CP, either free or in an immunoprotected encapsulated form, deliver therapeutic molecules to the desired site. This review briefly describes the accumulated evidence that CP cells support neuronal cells in vitro and have therapeutic properties when transplanted to treat acute and chronic brain disease and injury in animal models.