Meningeal mast cells affect early T cell central nervous system infiltration and blood-brain barrier integrity through TNF: a role for neutrophil recruitment?

BA Sayed, AL Christy, ME Walker… - The Journal of …, 2010 - journals.aai.org
BA Sayed, AL Christy, ME Walker, MA Brown
The Journal of Immunology, 2010journals.aai.org
Mast cells contribute to the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a
rodent model of the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. Yet their site and mode
of action is unknown. In both diseases, myelin-specific T cells are initially activated in
peripheral lymphoid organs. However, for disease to occur, these cells must enter the
immunologically privileged CNS through a breach in the relatively impermeable blood-brain
barrier. In this study, we demonstrate that a dense population of resident mast cells in the …
Abstract
Mast cells contribute to the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a rodent model of the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. Yet their site and mode of action is unknown. In both diseases, myelin-specific T cells are initially activated in peripheral lymphoid organs. However, for disease to occur, these cells must enter the immunologically privileged CNS through a breach in the relatively impermeable blood-brain barrier. In this study, we demonstrate that a dense population of resident mast cells in the meninges, structures surrounding the brain and spinal cord, regulate basal CNS barrier function, facilitating initial T cell CNS entry. Through the expression of TNF, mast cells recruit an early wave of neutrophils to the CNS. We propose that neutrophils in turn promote the blood-brain barrier breach and together with T cells lead to further inflammatory cell influx and myelin damage. These findings provide specific targets for intervention in multiple sclerosis as well as other immune-mediated CNS diseases.
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