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Gião T, Teixeira T, Almeida MR, Cardoso I. Choroid Plexus in Alzheimer’s Disease—The Current State of Knowledge. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020224. [PMID: 35203434 PMCID: PMC8869376 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The choroid plexus (CP), located in each of the four ventricles of the brain, is formed by a monolayer of epithelial cells that surrounds a highly vascularized connective tissue with permeable capillaries. These cells are joined by tight junctions forming the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), which strictly regulates the exchange of substances between the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The primary purpose of the CP is to secrete CSF, but it also plays a role in the immune surveillance of the central nervous system (CNS) and in the removal of neurotoxic compounds from the CSF. According to recent findings, the CP is also involved in the modulation of the circadian cycle and neurogenesis. In diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the function of the CP is impaired, resulting in an altered secretory, barrier, transport, and immune function. This review describes the current state of knowledge concerning the roles of the CP and BCSFB in the pathophysiology of AD and summarizes recently proposed therapies that aim to restore CP and BCSFB functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Gião
- Molecular Neurobiology Group, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (T.T.); (M.R.A.)
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-013 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (T.G.); (I.C.)
| | - Tiago Teixeira
- Molecular Neurobiology Group, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (T.T.); (M.R.A.)
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Rosário Almeida
- Molecular Neurobiology Group, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (T.T.); (M.R.A.)
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-013 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- Molecular Neurobiology Group, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (T.T.); (M.R.A.)
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4050-013 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (T.G.); (I.C.)
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Pannese E. Quantitative, structural and molecular changes in neuroglia of aging mammals: A review. Eur J Histochem 2021; 65. [PMID: 34346664 PMCID: PMC8239453 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2021.3249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuroglia of the central and peripheral nervous systems undergo numerous changes during normal aging. Astrocytes become hypertrophic and accumulate intermediate filaments. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells undergo alterations that are often accompanied by degenerative changes to the myelin sheath. In microglia, proliferation in response to injury, motility of cell processes, ability to migrate to sites of neural injury, and phagocytic and autophagic capabilities are reduced. In sensory ganglia, the number and extent of gaps between perineuronal satellite cells – that leave the surfaces of sensory ganglion neurons directly exposed to basal lamina – increase significantly. The molecular profiles of neuroglia also change in old age, which, in view of the interactions between neurons and neuroglia, have negative consequences for important physiological processes in the nervous system. Since neuroglia actively participate in numerous nervous system processes, it is likely that not only neurons but also neuroglia will prove to be useful targets for interventions to prevent, reverse or slow the behavioral changes and cognitive decline that often accompany senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ennio Pannese
- Emeritus, Full Professor of Normal Human Anatomy and Neurocytology at the University of Milan.
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Liddelow SA. Development of the choroid plexus and blood-CSF barrier. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:32. [PMID: 25784848 PMCID: PMC4347429 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Well-known as one of the main sources of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the choroid plexuses have been, and still remain, a relatively understudied tissue in neuroscience. The choroid plexus and CSF (along with the blood-brain barrier proper) are recognized to provide a robust protective effort for the brain: a physical barrier to impede entrance of toxic metabolites to the brain; a “biochemical” barrier that facilitates removal of moieties that circumvent this physical barrier; and buoyant physical protection by CSF itself. In addition, the choroid plexus-CSF system has been shown to be integral for normal brain development, central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis, and repair after disease and trauma. It has been suggested to provide a stem-cell like repository for neuronal and astrocyte glial cell progenitors. By far, the most widely recognized choroid plexus role is as the site of the blood-CSF barrier, controller of the internal CNS microenvironment. Mechanisms involved combine structural diffusion restraint from tight junctions between plexus epithelial cells (physical barrier) and specific exchange mechanisms across the interface (enzymatic barrier). The current hypothesis states that early in development this interface is functional and more specific than in the adult, with differences historically termed as “immaturity” actually correctly reflecting developmental specialization. The advanced knowledge of the choroid plexus-CSF system proves itself imperative to understand a range of neurological diseases, from those caused by plexus or CSF drainage dysfunction (e.g., hydrocephalus) to more complicated late-stage diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's) and failure of CNS regeneration. This review will focus on choroid plexus development, outlining how early specializations may be exploited clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A Liddelow
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University CA, USA ; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC, Australia
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