When:
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT
Where: McGaw Pavilion, Williams Auditorium, 240 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611 map it
Audience: Faculty/Staff - Post Docs/Docs - Graduate Students
Contact:
Dr. Lavanya Visvabharanthy
(312) 503-1093
Group: Department of Microbiology-Immunology Seminars/Events
Category: Lectures & Meetings
Title: Meningeal Lymphatics in CNS Immune Surveillance and in Neuroinflammation
Speaker: Jonathan Kipnis, PhD
Host: Immunology Graduate Students and Postdocs
Topic:
Immune cells and their derived molecules have major impact on brain function. Mice deficient in adaptive immunity have impaired cognitive and social function compared to that of wild-type mice. Importantly, replenishment of the T cell compartment in immune deficient mice restored proper brain function. Despite the robust influence on brain function, T cells are not found within the brain parenchyma, a fact that only adds more mystery into these enigmatic interactions between T cells and the brain. Our results suggest that meningeal space, surrounding the brain, is the site where CNS-associated immune activity takes place. We have recently discovered a presence of meningeal lymphatic vessels that drain CNS molecules and immune cells to the deep cervical lymph nodes. This communication between the CNS and the peripheral immunity is playing a key role in immune surveillance of the CNS and in several neuroinflammatory disorders.