A Role of the Choroid Plexus in Transplantation Therapy

The choroid plexuses (CPs) play pivotal roles in the most basic aspects of neural function. Some of the roles of the CP include 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 suggests 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 several CNS diseases. It is also possible that replacing diseased CP or transplanting healthy CP might be useful for treating acute and chronic brain diseases. Here we describe the wide-ranging 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.