Two Immune Guardians of the Brain Discovered
A distinct macrophage subpopulation could be the key to addressing inflammatory diseases in the brain such as Alzheimer’s
Most organ systems are protected by a cavalry of immune cells present in the circulation-but not the brain. Considered an immune-privileged site, the brain is shielded from these immune cells in order to avoid any potentially dangerous immune reactions.
There are, however, particular cellular sentinels that play central roles in making sure neurological processes run like clockwork. These resident immune populations of the brain are macrophages. They survey baseline neuronal activity, leap to the rescue upon sensing tissue damage, and also play a critical role in fetal brain development. Because of their important and diverse functions in the brain, neuroimmunologists have been interested in diving deeper into the biology of these complex cells.
A team led by Florent Ginhoux from the Singapore Immunology Network has made an important discovery in the field: There are actually two distinct subpopulations of macrophages in the brain. The research was published in Cell.
“People tend to think that all brain macrophages are the same,” said Ginhoux. “But recent studies have revealed that different types of macrophages reside in parts of the brain, surrounded by different types…
