Unveiling the enigma of the CNS as a B-cell fostering environment

This Opinion deals with the apparent paradox between the ‘immune privileged’ status of the central nervous system (CNS) and its propensity to act as a B-cell fostering environment in a variety of neurological disorders. Evidence will be reviewed that: (i) molecules regulating B-cell homing and survi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in immunology 2005-05, Vol.26 (5), p.254-259
Main Authors: Uccelli, Antonio, Aloisi, Francesca, Pistoia, Vito
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
B-Lymphocytes - cytology
B-Lymphocytes - immunology
Cell Differentiation
Central Nervous System - cytology
Central Nervous System - immunology
Central Nervous System - pathology
Disease
Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - immunology
Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology
Humans
Multiple Sclerosis - immunology
Multiple Sclerosis - pathology
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Summary:This Opinion deals with the apparent paradox between the ‘immune privileged’ status of the central nervous system (CNS) and its propensity to act as a B-cell fostering environment in a variety of neurological disorders. Evidence will be reviewed that: (i) molecules regulating B-cell homing and survival are produced in the CNS, (ii) in different neuroinflammatory diseases, B cells can undergo a local recapitulation of the differentiation occurring in secondary lymphoid organs and (iii) ectopic lymphoid follicles develop in the meninges of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
ISSN:1471-4906
1471-4981
DOI:10.1016/j.it.2005.02.009