title: Neurons as targets for T cells in the nervous system.
abstract: Accumulating evidence shows that T cells penetrate the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma in several autoimmune, infectious, and degenerative neurological diseases. The structural and functional consequences for CNS neurons of their encounter with activated T cells have been investigated in several experimental systems, including ex vivo co-cultures, electrophysiology, and in vivo imaging. Here, we review the modalities of neuron/T cell interactions. We substantiate the contention that T cells are directly responsible for neuronal damage in a large number of neurological diseases and discuss mechanisms of neuronal damage mediated by distinct T cell subsets, the impact of which differs depending on the disease. Finally, we describe how a better understanding of the mechanisms at play offers new possibilities for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1043, Toulouse, France. roland.liblau@inserm.fr
authors.forename: Roland S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Liblau
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Dunia
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiendl
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zipp
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I