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Updated: May 7, 2026

Isolating Immune Cells from Mouse Brain and Skull
Published on: July 26, 2024
Learning and memory ... and the immune system
1Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), Department of Neuroscience, Neuroscience Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Abstract:
The nervous system and the immune system are two main regulators of homeostasis in the body. Communication between them ensures normal functioning of the organism. Immune cells and molecules are required for sculpting the circuitry and determining the activity of the nervous system. Within the parenchyma of the central nervous system (CNS), microglia constantly monitor synapses and participate in their pruning during development and possibly also throughout life. Classical inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), are released during neuronal activity and play a crucial role in regulating the strength of synaptic transmission. Systemically, proper functioning of the immune system is critical for maintaining normal nervous system function. Disruption of the immune system functioning leads to impairments in cognition and in neurogenesis. In this review we provide examples of the communication between the nervous and the immune systems in the interest of normal CNS development and function.
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