Neurodegeneration Triggers Peripheral Immune Cell Recruitment into the Forebrain

Brain-intrinsic degenerative cascades have been proposed to be an initial factor driving lesion formation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we identify neurodegeneration as a potent trigger for peripheral immune cell recruitment into the mouse forebrain. Female C57BL/6 mice were fed cuprizone for 3 weeks, followed by a period of 2 weeks on normal chow to induce the formation of lesion foci in the forebrain. Subsequent immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 peptide, which induces myelin autoreactive T cells in the periphery, resulted in massive immune cell recruitment into the affected forebrain. Additional adoptive transfer experiments together with flow cytometry analysis underline the importance of brain-derived signals for immune cell recruitment. This study clearly illustrates the significance of brain-intrinsic degenerative cascades for immune cell recruitment and MS lesion formation. Additional studies have to address the signaling cascades and mechanistic processes that form the top-down communication between the affected brain area, neurovascular unit, and peripheral immune cells.

We identify neurodegeneration as a potent trigger for peripheral immune cell recruitment into the forebrain. Thus, immune cell recruitment might be a second step during the formation of new inflammatory lesions in multiple sclerosis. A better understanding of factors regulating neurodegeneration-induced immune cell recruitment will pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic treatment strategies.