Transcriptome sequencing of the choroid plexus in schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Genetics

Background:

• The choroid plexus (CP) is vital for brain homeostasis, regulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production and transport.
• Schizophrenia is associated with immune and inflammatory abnormalities, but the CP's role remains uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gene expression in the choroid plexus of individuals with schizophrenia.
• To identify immune and inflammatory pathways involved in the CP in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• mRNA sequencing of choroid plexus tissue from schizophrenia patients and controls.
• Co-expression network analysis to identify gene modules associated with schizophrenia.
• Correlation analysis with peripheral and brain inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• Upregulation of immune and inflammation-related genes in the CP of individuals with schizophrenia.
• A significant association between an immune/inflammation co-expression module and schizophrenia.
• Positive correlations between this module and serum/frontal cortex inflammatory markers (CRP, cortisol, cytokines).
• Overlap between schizophrenia-associated modules and those from an LPS-treated mouse model.

Conclusions:

• The CP upregulates immune genes in schizophrenia, likely a response to peripheral inflammation to protect the brain.
• Despite this response, the CP does not fully prevent neuroinflammation in schizophrenia.