Expression of stanniocalcin in the epithelium of human choroid plexus

Stanniocalcin (STC) is a 28 kD glycoprotein hormone originally found in bon y fish in which it regulates calcium/phosphate homeostasis and protects aga inst hypercalcemia. The recently characterized mammalian STC shows about 70 % homology with fish STC, The epithelial cells of proximal tubuli in human and rat kidney and brain neurons have been found to express STC. Were we sh ow that the epithelium of the choroid plexus, already at 16 weeks of fetal age, and of plexus papillomas, synthesize and express STC. Our findings sug gest that STC may be of importance for the distribution of calcium and phos phate between the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.