Base barrier cells provide compartmentalization of choroid plexus, brain and CSF
The choroid plexus (ChP), located in the brain ventricles, is largely composed of ChP epithelial cells that produce the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and form the blood-CSF barrier. At the ChP-brain attachment sites, we have discovered unique fibroblasts referred to as ChP base barrier cells (BBCs). We show that ChP BBCs originate from meningeal mesenchymal precursors, arrive early during development, remain throughout life and are conserved across species. ChP BBCs are transcriptionally similar to meningeal arachnoid barrier cells and are interconnected by both adherens and tight junctions. Notably, we provide evidence that the BBCs function as a barrier, controlling communication between the periphery and central nervous system. Moreover, during inflammatory insult, we observed a loss of barrier integrity and immune cell crossing. Altogether, our research revealed a barrier at the ChP base, crucial in protecting the central nervous system by compartmentalizing the ChP stroma, brain parenchyma and CSF.
Authors
- Saskia Lippens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8261-3462)
- Wouter Claeys (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0719-9943)
- Ward De Spiegelaere (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2097-8439)
- Peter Borghgraef
- Daan Verhaege (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5718-9383)
- Lien Van Hoecke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8602-4211)
- Jonas Castelein (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5923-6774)
- Julie A. Siegenthaler
- Neil Dani
- Roosmarijn E. Vandenbroucke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8327-620X)
- Lore Van Acker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7857-1634)
- Evelien van Hamme
- Clint De Nolf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2033-1830)
- Griet Van Imschoot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7663-5549)
- Pieter Dujardin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4678-0722)
- Fleur Boone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6492-8401)
- Esther Hoste (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3181-431X)
- Julia Derk
- Elien Van Wonterghem
- Anna Kremer
- Hart G. W. Lidov
- Maria K. Lehtinen
Institutions
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Ghent University Hospital (BE)
- Ghent University (BE)
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (BE)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (BE)
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (BE)
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology (BE)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2026-02-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02188-7
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 69.62