1. ¹Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
2. ²Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

Correspondence: Dr JA Palha, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal. E-mail: japalha@ecsaude.uminho.pt

Received 5 July 2007; Revised 23 August 2007; Accepted 23 August 2007; Published online 26 September 2007.

Abstract

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is able to sequester iron-loaded bacterial siderophores and, therefore, is known to participate in the mammalian innate immune response. Of notice, LCN2 was shown to display bacteriostatic effects both in in vitro and in vivo. To reach the brain, bacteria must cross the blood–brain or the choroid plexus (CP)/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers. Additionally, as the CP is responsible for the production of most of the CSF, responses of the CP mediate signaling into the brain. We show here that in conditions of peripheral inflammation, LCN2 behaves as an acute phase protein in the CP. As early as 1 h after lipopolysaccharide peripheral administration, Lcn2 mRNA levels are upregulated, returning to basal levels after 72 h. Increased LCN2 protein is observed in choroidal epithelia and in endothelial cells of blood vessels in the brain parenchyma. Higher levels of LCN2 are also present in the CSF. These observations suggest that expression of LCN2 at the CP/CSF barrier might be bacteriostatic in the brain, avoiding bacteria dissemination within the CSF into the brain parenchyma. This study shows that the LCN2 is produced by the CP as a component of the innate immune response that protects the central nervous system from infection.