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Lipocalin 2 is a choroid plexus acute-phase protein

Fernanda Marques1, Ana-João Rodrigues, João C Sousa

  • 1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.

Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism : Official Journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
|September 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) acts as an acute phase protein in the choroid plexus during inflammation. This innate immune response protein helps protect the central nervous system by preventing bacterial spread in cerebrospinal fluid.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) sequesters bacterial siderophores, contributing to innate immunity with known bacteriostatic effects.
  • Bacteria can invade the central nervous system (CNS) via the blood-brain or choroid plexus (CP)/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers.
  • The CP is crucial for CSF production and mediates signaling into the brain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate LCN2's role as an acute phase protein in the CP during peripheral inflammation.
  • To determine if LCN2 expression at the CP/CSF barrier impacts bacterial dissemination into the brain.

Main Methods:

  • Peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation.
  • Quantitative analysis of Lcn2 mRNA and protein levels in the CP, brain parenchyma, and CSF.
  • Assessment of LCN2 localization in choroidal epithelia and brain vasculature.

Main Results:

  • Lcn2 mRNA levels significantly upregulated in the CP within 1 hour of LPS administration, returning to baseline by 72 hours.
  • Increased LCN2 protein detected in choroidal epithelia and brain blood vessel endothelial cells.
  • Elevated LCN2 levels observed in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Conclusions:

  • LCN2 functions as an acute phase protein in the CP during systemic inflammation.
  • LCN2 expression at the CP/CSF barrier may provide a bacteriostatic defense, limiting bacterial spread into the CNS.
  • The CP produces LCN2 as part of the innate immune system's defense of the central nervous system against infection.

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