Choroid plexus transplants in the treatment of brain diseases.
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.
Skinner
Stephen J M
SJ
Living Cell Technologies Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand. sskinner@lctglobal.com
Geaney
Marilyn S
MS
Rush
Robert
R
Rogers
Mary-Louise
ML
Emerich
Dwaine F
DF
Thanos
Christopher G
CG
Vasconcellos
Alfred V
AV
Tan
Paul L J
PL
Elliott
Robert B
RB
D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000276:immunology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D019737:Transplants
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors