Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels.
Nature
; 523(7560): 337-41, 2015 Jul 16.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26030524
ABSTRACT
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 compartment, the mechanisms governing the entrance and exit of immune cells from the central nervous system remain poorly understood. 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.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Sistema Nervoso Central
/
Vasos Linfáticos
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos