The anatomical and cellular basis of immune surveillance in the central nervous system.
The central nervous system (CNS) comprises the brain, spinal cord, optic nerves and retina, and contains post-mitotic, delicate cells. As the rigid coverings of the CNS render swelling dangerous and destructive, inflammatory reactions must be carefully controlled in CNS tissues. Nevertheless, effector immune responses that protect the host during CNS infection still occur in the CNS. Here, we describe the anatomical and cellular basis of immune surveillance in the CNS, and explain how this shapes the unique immunology of these tissues. The Review focuses principally on insights gained from the study of autoimmune responses in the CNS and to a lesser extent on models of infectious disease. Furthermore, we propose a new model to explain how antigen-specific T cell responses occur in the CNS.
Neuroinflammation Research Center and Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. ransohr@ccf.org
Richard M
RM
Ransohoff
Britta
B
Engelhardt
D015551:Autoimmunity; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology