Unveiling the enigma of the CNS as a B-cell fostering environment.
This Opinion deals with the apparent paradox between the 'immune privileged' status of the central nervous system (CNS) and its propensity to act as a B-cell fostering environment in a variety of neurological disorders. Evidence will be reviewed that: (i) molecules regulating B-cell homing and survival are produced in the CNS, (ii) in different neuroinflammatory diseases, B cells can undergo a local recapitulation of the differentiation occurring in secondary lymphoid organs and (iii) ectopic lymphoid follicles develop in the meninges of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
Uccelli
Antonio
A
Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Italy. auccelli@neurologia.unige.it
Aloisi
Francesca
F
Pistoia
Vito
V
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004194:Disease; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology