The Blood-Brain Barrier and the Immune System

Author(s):  
Marianne Juhler ◽  
Edward A. Neuwelt
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Presta ◽  
Marco Vismara ◽  
Fabiana Novellino ◽  
Annalidia Donato ◽  
Paolo Zaffino ◽  
...  

Recent studies have clarified many still unknown aspects related to innate immunity and the blood-brain barrier relationship. They have also confirmed the close links between effector immune system cells, such as granulocytes, macrophages, microglia, natural killer cells and mast cells, and barrier functionality. The latter, in turn, is able to influence not only the entry of the cells of the immune system into the nervous tissue, but also their own activation. Interestingly, these two components and their interactions play a role of great importance not only in infectious diseases, but in almost all the pathologies of the central nervous system. In this paper, we review the main aspects in the field of vascular diseases (cerebral ischemia), of primitive and secondary neoplasms of Central Nervous System CNS, of CNS infectious diseases, of most common neurodegenerative diseases, in epilepsy and in demyelinating diseases (multiple sclerosis). Neuroinflammation phenomena are constantly present in all diseases; in every different pathological state, a variety of innate immunity cells responds to specific stimuli, differentiating their action, which can influence the blood-brain barrier permeability. This, in turn, undergoes anatomical and functional modifications, allowing the stabilization or the progression of the pathological processes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 114-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.D. Van Der Werf ◽  
M.J.L. De Jongste ◽  
G.J. Ter Horst

SummaryIn this investigation the effects of immune activation on the brain are characterized. In order to study this, we used a model for chronic immune activation, the myocardial infarction, and intravenous injections with the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α). The incentive for this study is the observation that myocardial infarction is accompanied by behavioural and neuronal abnormalities. The effects of myocardial infarction on the brain and its functioning are widespread. In order to examine the mechanism through which this interaction occurs, a group of rats underwent an experimentally induced myocardial infarction whereafter immunohistochemistry was performed on slices of the brain. This experiment revealed regional serum protein extravasation, pointing to leakage of the blood-brain barrier. This process occurred in certain cortical, subcortical and hindbrain areas in discrete patches. The leakage was co-localized with the expression of the immune activation marker ICAM-1. A second group of rats was therefore injected with TNF-α, a major pro-inflammatory cytokine, to assess the involvement of the immune system in the effects shown. This procedure rendered the same results. It is concluded that myocardial infarction may interfere with the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and possibly with brain functioning through activation of the immune system. The relevance for pathophysiological processes is discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Erickson ◽  
William Banks

Age is associated with altered immune functions that may affect the brain. Brain barriers, including the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–CSF barrier (BCSFB), are important interfaces for neuroimmune communication, and are affected by aging. In this review, we explore novel mechanisms by which the aging immune system alters central nervous system functions and neuroimmune responses, with a focus on brain barriers. Specific emphasis will be on recent works that have identified novel mechanisms by which BBB/BCSFB functions change with age, interactions of the BBB with age-associated immune factors, and contributions of the BBB to age-associated neurological disorders. Understanding how age alters BBB functions and responses to pathological insults could provide important insight on the role of the BBB in the progression of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Galstyan ◽  
Antonella Chiechi ◽  
Tao Sun ◽  
Ekaterina S. Shatalova ◽  
Rameshwar Patil ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Galstyan ◽  
Antonella Chiechi ◽  
Tao Sun ◽  
Ekaterina S. Shatalova ◽  
Rameshwar Patil ◽  
...  

Epilepsia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1931-1944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diede W. M. Broekaart ◽  
Jasper J. Anink ◽  
Johannes C. Baayen ◽  
Sander Idema ◽  
Helga E. de Vries ◽  
...  

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