Immune cells and CNS physiology: Microglia and beyond

GT Norris, J Kipnis - Journal of experimental medicine, 2019 - rupress.org
GT Norris, J Kipnis
Journal of experimental medicine, 2019rupress.org
Recent advances have directed our knowledge of the immune system from a narrative of
“self” versus “nonself” to one in which immune function is critical for homeostasis of organs
throughout the body. This is also the case with respect to the central nervous system (CNS).
CNS immunity exists in a segregated state, with a marked partition occurring between the
brain parenchyma and meningeal spaces. While the brain parenchyma is patrolled by
perivascular macrophages and microglia, the meningeal spaces are supplied with a diverse …
Recent advances have directed our knowledge of the immune system from a narrative of “self” versus “nonself” to one in which immune function is critical for homeostasis of organs throughout the body. This is also the case with respect to the central nervous system (CNS). CNS immunity exists in a segregated state, with a marked partition occurring between the brain parenchyma and meningeal spaces. While the brain parenchyma is patrolled by perivascular macrophages and microglia, the meningeal spaces are supplied with a diverse immune repertoire. In this review, we posit that such partition allows for neuro–immune crosstalk to be properly tuned. Convention may imply that meningeal immunity is an ominous threat to brain function; however, recent studies have shown that its presence may instead be a steady hand directing the CNS to optimal performance.
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