Grant: Project Grant

The choroid plexus (CP) is a secretory tissue found in the brain ventricles, the communicating cavities within the brain. The CP produces a clear fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which nourishes our brain and helps its functioning, but also secretes some molecules important in the brain that help producing new neurons in the adult brain. During aging, we observe a decline of CP functions (CSF production and molecules secretion). The aging CP is also the source of inflammation that causes some damages in brain tissues. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the CP aging and inflammation remain largely elusive. Our goal is to address this issue by 1/ investigating the cellular source of inflammation in an aging CP, 2/ deciphering the activation mechanisms of CP inflammation during aging, and 3/ challenging CP aging by blocking the neuroinflammation. We expect this project to provide important information on how neuroinflammation participates to the CP aging process. It will open a new way to prevent long-term dysfunctions of the CP and could promote the development of potential treatments. Neuroinflammation takes place during aging, so a better control of it could have a major impact on the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.