JCPyV infection of primary choroid plexus epithelial cells reduces expression of critical junctional proteins and increases expression of barrier disrupting inflammatory cytokines.

and this highly vascularized organ may be important in viral invasion of brain parenchyma. Our data show that infection of primary choroid plexus epithelial cells results in increased expression of pro-inflammatory chemokines and downregulation of critical junctional proteins that maintain the blood-CSF barrier. These data have direct implications for mechanisms used by JCPyV to invade the CNS and cause neurological disease.