Choroid plexus enlargement is associated with neuroinflammation and reduction of blood brain barrier permeability in depression

Motivation: We are motivated to investigate CP volume alterations in depression and their associations with brain inflammationGoal(s): To investigate CP volume alterations in depression and associations with central brain inflammationApproach: The study re-analyzed 51 depressed participants (HDRS score >13) from the Wellcome Trust NIMA project. Fully peripheral cytokine profiling [11C] PK11195 PET/structural MRI imaging measured neuroinflammation, blood-to-CSF radiotracer exchange parameters, and CP volumeResults: Depressed patients had a higher CP volume than HCs (t(76) =+2.17, p=0.03), which was positively linked with [11C]PK11195 binding in the anterior cingulate, prefrontal, and insular cortex. CP volume negatively correlated with blood-to-CSF radiotracer exchange parameters (r=-0.28, p=0.02)Impact: Findings suggest that brain barrier alterations may reduce blood-CSF exchanges, disrupting brain homeostasis and causing depression-related inflammation