Ya'el Courtney

All Publications

• Choroid Plexus Pathophysiology. Annual review of pathology Courtney, Y., Hochstetler, A., Lehtinen, M. K. 2024

  Abstract

  This review examines the crucial roles of the choroid plexus (ChP) in central nervous system (CNS) pathology, emphasizing its involvement in disease mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Structural changes in the human ChP have been reported across various diseases in case reports and descriptive work, but studies have yet to pin down the physiological relevance of these changes. We highlight primary pathologies of the ChP, as well as their significance in neurologic disorders, including stroke, hydrocephalus, infectious diseases, and neurodegeneration. Synthesizing recent research, this review positions the ChP as a critical player in CNS homeostasis and pathology, advocating for enhanced focus on its mechanisms to unlock new diagnostic and treatment strategies and ultimately improve patient outcomes in CNS diseases. Whether acting as a principal driver of disease, a gateway for pathogens into the CNS, or an orchestrator of neuroimmune processes, the ChP holds tremendous promise as a therapeutic target to attenuate a multitude of CNS conditions.

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-051222-114051

  View details for PubMedID 39383438

• A choroid plexus apocrine secretion mechanism shapes CSF proteome and embryonic brain development. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology Courtney, Y., Head, J. P., Yimer, E. D., Dani, N., Shipley, F. B., Libermann, T. A., Lehtinen, M. K. 2024

  Abstract

  We discovered that apocrine secretion by embryonic choroid plexus (ChP) epithelial cells contributes to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome and influences brain development in mice. The apocrine response relies on sustained intracellular calcium signaling and calpain-mediated cytoskeletal remodeling. It rapidly alters the embryonic CSF proteome, activating neural progenitors lining the brain's ventricles. Supraphysiological apocrine secretion induced during mouse development by maternal administration of a serotonergic 5HT2C receptor agonist dysregulates offspring cerebral cortical development, alters the fate of CSF-contacting neural progenitors, and ultimately changes adult social behaviors. Critically, exposure to maternal illness or to the psychedelic drug LSD during pregnancy also overactivates the ChP, inducing excessive secretion. Collectively, our findings demonstrate a new mechanism by which maternal exposure to diverse stressors disrupts in utero brain development.

  View details for DOI 10.1101/2024.01.08.574486

  View details for PubMedID 38260341

• Pattern Similarity Analyses of FrontoParietal Task Coding: Individual Variation and Genetic Influences. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) Etzel, J. A., Courtney, Y., Carey, C. E., Gehred, M. Z., Agrawal, A., Braver, T. S. 2020; 30 (5): 3167-3183

  Abstract

  Pattern similarity analyses are increasingly used to characterize coding properties of brain regions, but relatively few have focused on cognitive control processes in FrontoParietal regions. Here, we use the Human Connectome Project (HCP) N-back task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dataset to examine individual differences and genetic influences on the coding of working memory load (0-back, 2-back) and perceptual category (Face, Place). Participants were grouped into 105 monozygotic twin, 78 dizygotic twin, 99 nontwin sibling, and 100 unrelated pairs. Activation pattern similarity was used to test the hypothesis that FrontoParietal regions would have higher similarity for same load conditions, while Visual regions would have higher similarity in same perceptual category conditions. Results confirmed this highly robust regional double dissociation in neural coding, which also predicted individual differences in behavioral performance. In pair-based analyses, anatomically selective genetic relatedness effects were observed: relatedness predicted greater activation pattern similarity in FrontoParietal only for load coding and in Visual only for perceptual coding. Further, in related pairs, the similarity of load coding in FrontoParietal regions was uniquely associated with behavioral performance. Together, these results highlight the power of task fMRI pattern similarity analyses for detecting key coding and heritability features of brain regions.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/cercor/bhz301

  View details for PubMedID 32086524

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7197197

• A Guide for Undergraduates to the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience José-Edwards, D. S., Johnson, N. X., Jimenez, J., Courtney, Y., Khoussine, J. O., Herzog, E. D. 2017; 15 (2): E10-E12

  Abstract

  The annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) attracts over 30,000 attendees, including many of the world's most accomplished researchers. Although it can be intimidating to attend a conference of this scale, there are many rewards for undergraduates. Based on surveys of young neuroscientists, we provide planning strategies to ensure attendees maximize their exposure and retention of the breadth and depth offered by this large conference format without becoming overwhelmed.

  View details for PubMedID 28690443

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5480849