Regulation of T-cell responses by CNS antigen-presenting cells: different roles for microglia and astrocytes

✍ Scribed by Francesca Aloisi; Francesco Ria; Luciano Adorini

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 219 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0167-5699
• DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5699(99)01512-1

✦ Synopsis

mmune privilege of the CNS is thought to be maintained by the tight endothelial junctions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the absence of adequate connections with the immune system, and the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This strict regulation of CNS immune reactivity is overcome in neuroinflammatory disorders, in which large numbers of leukocytes are recruited to the CNS, often leading to irreversible neurological impairment. T cells are thought to play a key role in initiating and perpetuating the disruptive inflammatory process associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a putative autoimmune disease affecting the CNS white matter, or with certain neurotrophic virus infections 1 . Despite intensive investigation, the events underlying the recognition of CNS-associated antigens by T cells remain poorly defined. One of the most debated and controversial issues is whether, and to what extent, cells residing in the CNS participate in the stimulation and/or the reactivation of CNS-targeted T cells.