Project

Unraveling the heterogeneity of the choroid plexus tissue and its cell (sub)type-specific response to different inflammatory triggers.

Code
3G055121
Duration
01 January 2021 → 31 December 2024
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Single-cell data analysis
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Inflammation
    • Neurosciences not elsewhere classified
Keywords
inflammation
 
Project description

Brain homeostasis depends on barriers separating blood from the central nervous system (CNS). The choroid plexus can be found in the four ventricles of the brain and is characterized by a single layer of choroid plexus epithelial (CPE) cells surrounding stroma and leaky capillaries thereby creating the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. Additionally, the choroid plexus is involved in CSF production and detoxification, immune surveillance and molecular transport from blood to the CNS. Convincing evidence revealed a central role of the choroid plexus in several brain inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the choroid plexus is one of the most understudied brain regions. Moreover, most choroid plexus research is performed without taking into account spatial differences, while increasing evidence suggests that e.g. the lateral (LV) and fourth (4V) choroid plexus have very distinct properties in homeostasis and disease. Here, we aim at unraveling both spatial and cellular heterogeneity of the LV and 4V choroid plexus in healthy adult, old and Alzheimer’s disease mice and cell (sub)type-specific expression changes will be studied in more detail. In conclusion, this project aims to unravel the choroid plexus heterogeneity in health and disease using single cell analysis on choroid plexus tissue from different mouse models.