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ephen wilb
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http://neurosciencenews.com/lymphatic-system-brain-neurobiology-2080/
can this explain why our immune system suffers when we are sad or down?
can this explain why our immune system suffers when we are sad or down?
The findings have been published online by the prestigious journal Nature and will appear in a forthcoming print edition. The article was authored by Louveau, Smirnov, Timothy J. Keyes, Jacob D. Eccles, Sherin J. Rouhani, J. David Peske, Noel C. Derecki, David Castle, James W. Mandell, Lee, Harris and Kipnis.
Funding: The study was funded by National Institutes of Health grants R01AG034113 and R01NS061973. Louveau was a fellow of Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale.
One of the characteristics of the central nervous system is the lack of a classical lymphatic drainage system. Although it is now accepted that the central nervous system undergoes constant immune surveillance that takes place within the meningeal compartment1, 2, 3, the mechanisms governing the entrance and exit of immune cells from the central nervous system remain poorly understood4, 5, 6. In searching for T-cell gateways into and out of the meninges, we discovered functional lymphatic vessels lining the dural sinuses. These structures express all of the molecular hallmarks of lymphatic endothelial cells, are able to carry both fluid and immune cells from the cerebrospinal fluid, and are connected to the deep cervical lymph nodes. The unique location of these vessels may have impeded their discovery to date, thereby contributing to the long-held concept of the absence of lymphatic vasculature in the central nervous system. The discovery of the central nervous system lymphatic system may call for a reassessment of basic assumptions in neuroimmunology and sheds new light on the aetiology of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases associated with immune system dysfunction.
Pythagorean said:Sensationalism. Even this article title, "missing link", as if there was this one thing missing and now all our problems are solved.
The discovery of a link between the brain and immune system has major implications for our understanding of various neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's. It also sheds light on the role of the immune system in brain development and function.
The missing link was discovered through the use of advanced imaging techniques, specifically a type of MRI called contrast-enhanced MRI. This allowed researchers to visualize lymphatic vessels in the meninges, which are the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
This discovery opens up new avenues for research in the field of neuroscience. It allows scientists to further investigate the connection between the brain and immune system, and potentially develop new treatments for neurological disorders that target the immune system.
Previously, it was believed that the brain was completely separate from the immune system, with no direct connection. This discovery challenges that theory and suggests that the two systems are actually intricately linked, with the immune system playing a crucial role in brain function and health.
The discovery of a link between the brain and immune system could have practical applications in the development of treatments for neurological disorders. It could also lead to a better understanding of conditions that involve both the brain and immune system, such as autism and depression.