Project description:Atoh1-Cre; Myc/Myc mice developed choroid plexus papilloma and Atoh1-Cre; Myc/Myc; p53fl/fl mice developed choroid plexus carcinoma. By studying the gene expression profiles of normal choroid plexus, choroid plexus papilloma and choroid plexus carcinoma in mice, we aim to gain a better understanding of the biology of choroid plexus tumors
Project description:Gene expression profiles generated from human tumor cells laser-microdissected from surgical samples of seven choroid plexus papillomas (Grade I WHO) as eight samples of epithelial cells lasermicrodissected from normal choroid plexus obtained at autopsy. Choroid plexus tumors are rare pediatric brain tumors derrived from the choroid plexus epithelium. Gene expression profiles of lasermicrodissected tumor cells from 7 individual choroid plexus tumor samples obtained at surgery were compared to gene expression profiles from non-neoplastic choroid plexus epithelial cells lasermicrodissected from normal non-neoplastic choroid plexus obtained at autopsy (Am J Surg Pathol. 2006 Jan;30(1):66-74.) in order to identfy genes differentially expressed in choroid plexus tumor cells.
Project description:Choroid plexus secretes cerebrospinal fluid important for brain development and homeostasis. The OTX2 homeoprotein is critical for choroid plexus development and remains highly expressed in adult choroid plexus. Through RNA sequencing analyses of constitutive and conditional knockdown adult mouse models, we reveal putative roles for OTX2 in choroid plexus function, including cell signaling and adhesion, and show that it regulates the expression of factors secreted into cerebrospinal fluid, notably transthyretin. We also show that Otx2 expression impacts choroid plexus immune and stress responses, and also affects splicing which leads to changes in mRNA isoforms of proteins implicated in oxidative stress response and DNA repair. Through mass spectrometry analysis of OTX2 protein partners in the choroid plexus, and in known non-cell autonomous target regions such as visual cortex and subventricular zone, we identified putative targets involved in cell adhesion, chromatin structure and RNA processing. Thus, OTX2 retains important roles in choroid plexus function and brain homeostasis throughout life.
Project description:Aggresome is a para nuclear inclusion body that functions as a storage compartment for misfolded proteins. Our previous work revealed the presence of aggresomes in pediatric choroid plexus tumors (CPT). CPTs are rare neoplasms comprised of three pathological subgroups; choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), a grade III tumor, atypical choroid plexus papilloma (ACPP), a grade II tumor, and choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), a grade I tumor. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of aggresomes-positivity and its correlation to the pathological and molecular subtypes. The proteomics profiling of 21 CPT pediatric samples was investigated using ABSciex Triple TOF 5600+ mass spectrometer.
Project description:Why individuals with Down Syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) are particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 induced disease remains largely unclear. The choroid plexus secrets the cerebrospinal fluid and strongly expresses the ACE2 receptor and the chromosome 21 encoded TMPRSS2 protease. To investigate the role of the choroid plexus in SARS-CoV-2 central nervous system infection in DS, we established a new type of brain organoid from DS and isogenic euploid control iPSC that consists of a core of appropriately patterned functional cortical neuronal cell types that is surrounded by a patent and functional choroid plexus (CPCOs). Remarkably, DS-CPCOs not only recapitulated abnormal features of DS cortical development but also revealed defects in ciliogenesis and epithelial cell polarity of the developing choroid plexus. We next demonstrate that the choroid plexus layer facilitates SARS-CoV-2 replication and infection of cortical neuronal cells, and that this is increased in DS-CPCOs. We further show that inhibition of TMPRSS2 activity in DS-CPCOs inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. We conclude that CPCOs are a useful model for dissecting the role of the choroid plexus in euploid and DS forebrain development and enables screening for therapeutics that can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 induced neuro-pathogenesis.
Project description:Why individuals with Down Syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) are particularly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 induced disease remains largely unclear. The choroid plexus secrets the cerebrospinal fluid and strongly expresses the ACE2 receptor and the chromosome 21 encoded TMPRSS2 protease. To investigate the role of the choroid plexus in SARS-CoV-2 central nervous system infection in DS, we established a new type of brain organoid from DS and isogenic euploid control iPSC that consists of a core of appropriately patterned functional cortical neuronal cell types that is surrounded by a patent and functional choroid plexus (CPCOs). Remarkably, DS-CPCOs not only recapitulated abnormal features of DS cortical development but also revealed defects in ciliogenesis and epithelial cell polarity of the developing choroid plexus. We next demonstrate that the choroid plexus layer facilitates SARS-CoV-2 replication and infection of cortical neuronal cells, and that this is increased in DS-CPCOs. We further show that inhibition of TMPRSS2 activity in DS-CPCOs inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. We conclude that CPCOs are a useful model for dissecting the role of the choroid plexus in euploid and DS forebrain development and enables screening for therapeutics that can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 induced neuro-pathogenesis.
Project description:Aggresome is a para nuclear inclusion body that functions as a storage compartment for misfolded proteins. Our previous work revealed the presence of aggresomes in pediatric choroid plexus tumors (CPT). CPTs are rare neoplasms comprised of three pathological subgroups; choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), a grade III tumor, atypical choroid plexus papilloma (ACPP), a grade II tumor, and choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), a grade I tumor. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of aggresomes-positivity and its correlation to the pathological and molecular subtypes. The genome-wide methylation profile of 42 CPT pediatric samples was investigated using Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip array.