Leukocyte-facilitated entry of intracellular pathogens into the central nervous system

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Analysis of Lymphocyte Extravasation Using an In Vitro Model of the Human Blood-brain Barrier
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D A Drevets1, P J Leenen

  • 1Department of Medicine, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (111/c), 921 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.

Microbes and Infection
|December 13, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Microbes invade the central nervous system using leukocyte-facilitated entry. Infected immune cells exploit normal trafficking routes across the blood-brain barrier to establish central nervous system infections.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Microbes employ diverse strategies to breach the central nervous system (CNS) defenses.
  • Leukocyte-facilitated entry represents a significant route for CNS invasion by intracellular pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism of leukocyte-facilitated entry into the central nervous system.
  • To identify key steps involved in pathogen invasion via immune cell trafficking.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the process of leukocyte trafficking to the CNS.
  • It examines the activation of leukocytes and cerebral endothelial cells.
  • Analysis of infected leukocyte migration across the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers.

Main Results:

  • Peripheral infection and subsequent leukocyte activation are critical.
  • Cerebral endothelial cell activation, with or without concurrent infection, facilitates entry.
  • Infected leukocytes successfully traffic to and penetrate CNS barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Leukocyte-facilitated entry is a key strategy for microbes invading the CNS.
  • Understanding this pathway is crucial for developing targeted therapies against neuroinfections.

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