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Review
. 2025 Jan;20(1):193-220.
doi: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-051222-114051. Epub 2025 Jan 2.

Choroid Plexus Pathophysiology

Ya'el Courtney  1   2 , Alexandra Hochstetler  3   1 , Maria K Lehtinen  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Choroid Plexus Pathophysiology

Ya'el Courtney et al. Annu Rev Pathol. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

This review examines the roles of the choroid plexus (ChP) in central nervous system (CNS) pathology, emphasizing its involvement in disease mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Structural changes in the human ChP have been reported across various diseases in case reports and descriptive work, but studies have yet to pin down the physiological relevance of these changes. We highlight primary pathologies of the ChP, as well as their significance in neurologic disorders, including stroke, hydrocephalus, infectious diseases, and neurodegeneration. Synthesizing recent research, this review positions the ChP as a critical player in CNS homeostasis and pathology, advocating for enhanced focus on its mechanisms to unlock new diagnostic and treatment strategies and ultimately improve patient outcomes in CNS diseases. Whether acting as a principal driver of disease, a gateway for pathogens into the CNS, or an orchestrator of neuroimmune processes, the ChP holds tremendous promise as a therapeutic target to attenuate a multitude of CNS conditions.

Keywords: blood–brain barrier; brain disease; cerebrospinal fluid; choroid plexus neoplasm; hydrocephalus; neuroimmunomodulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Statement

The authors are unaware of any affiliations, memberships, funding, or financial holdings that might be perceived as affecting the objectivity of this review.

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