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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Isolation and Characterization of the Immune Cells from Micro-dissected Mouse Choroid Plexuses
Published on: February 3, 2022
Choroid plexus morphological and microstructural changes across inflammatory phenotypes in multiple sclerosis
Marina Mastantuono1, Alessandro Cagol2, Mario Ocampo-Pineda3
1Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Allschwil, Switzerland; Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Departments of Neurology, Clinical Research and Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Neurology Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Background:
Growing evidence supports choroid plexus (CP) involvement in MS pathophysiology, but phase-specific associations according to recent inflammatory activity and longitudinal dynamics remain unclear.
Objective:
To characterize CP alterations in MS using volumetric and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and explore associations with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
Methods:
We analyzed cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal data from 101 patients with active relapsing MS (RMS), 83 with inactive progressive MS (PMS), and 100 controls, with MS groups stratified by inflammatory activity within the prior year. CP volume, quantitative T1, and magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) were assessed alongside imaging, serum, and clinical measures, with validation in a second cohort (62 active/357 inactive MS).
Results:
CP volume was increased in both active RMS and inactive PMS and was associated with lower total and cortical brain volumes. Associations with brain microstructural damage were more pronounced in periventricular regions, compatible with a surface-in pattern. Similar associations were observed in controls, suggesting CP volume may reflect processes beyond MS-specific pathology, including physiological factors. Longitudinally, CP volume increased exclusively in active RMS, with faster expansion associated with thalamic atrophy. CP MTsat was associated with cortical and paramagnetic rim lesions in inactive PMS.
Conclusion:
CP enlargement is consistent across MS phases. Longitudinal expansion occurs in active inflammatory disease and is associated with neurodegenerative changes.
Insights
Choroid plexus (CP) enlargement is seen in all multiple sclerosis (MS) phases. In active MS, CP volume increases over time, linked to brain atrophy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Choroid plexus (CP) involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathophysiology is increasingly recognized.
- Phase-specific associations and longitudinal changes of CP in MS remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize CP alterations in MS using volumetric and quantitative MRI.
- To explore associations between CP changes, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration in MS.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal MRI data from 101 active relapsing MS (RMS), 83 inactive progressive MS (PMS) patients, and 100 controls.
- Stratified analysis based on inflammatory activity, assessing CP volume, T1, and MTsat, validated in a second cohort.
Main Results:
- Increased CP volume in active RMS and inactive PMS, associated with reduced brain volumes.
- Longitudinal CP volume increase observed exclusively in active RMS, correlating with thalamic atrophy.
- CP MTsat linked to cortical and paramagnetic rim lesions in inactive PMS.
Conclusions:
- CP enlargement is a consistent finding across different MS phases.
- Longitudinal CP expansion is specific to active inflammatory MS and associated with neurodegenerative changes.
