Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2025
Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo
Published on: March 26, 2019
Brain borders at the central stage of neuroimmunology
Justin Rustenhoven1,2,3,4, Jonathan Kipnis5,6
1Center for Brain immunology and Glia (BIG), Washington University in St Louis, School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA. justin.rustenhoven@auckland.ac.nz.
Insights
The central nervous system (CNS) is not fully isolated from the immune system. Neuro-immune interactions at CNS borders are crucial for maintaining homeostasis and can lead to neurological diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- The traditional concept of immune privilege suggested the central nervous system (CNS) is isolated from the immune system.
- Recent research indicates that the borders of the CNS are critical sites for neuro-immune interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss recent findings on neuro-immune responses at the CNS borders.
- To explore the anatomical, cellular, and molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions.
- To examine the implications for central nervous system diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of anatomical, cellular, and molecular mechanisms.
- Discussion of disease implications.
Main Results:
- The CNS borders are active sites of neuro-immune communication.
- Specific anatomical, cellular, and molecular mechanisms facilitate these interactions.
- Dysregulated neuro-immune responses contribute to neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Conclusions:
- The concept of CNS immune privilege requires revision.
- Understanding neuro-immune interactions at CNS borders is vital for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases.
- Targeting these interactions may offer therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
The concept of immune privilege suggests that the central nervous system is isolated from the immune system. However, recent studies have highlighted the borders of the central nervous system as central sites of neuro-immune interactions. Although the nervous and immune systems both function to maintain homeostasis, under rare circumstances, they can develop pathological interactions that lead to neurological or psychiatric diseases. Here we discuss recent findings that dissect the key anatomical, cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable neuro-immune responses at the borders of the brain and spinal cord and the implications of these interactions for diseases of the central nervous system.
