Gut Infection May Prime Immune Cells at Brain's Protective Barrier
Source Summary
The dura mater, the outermost layer of the meninges protecting the brain and spinal cord, contains multiple populations of immune cells and has permeable openings through which circulating bacteria or parasites can potentially reach the central nervous system. Researchers are investigating whether infections and inflammation in the gut can train and modify immune cells stationed in the brain's outer protective layer.
Why it matters
Understanding how gut infections influence immune cell training at the brain's barrier could reveal new mechanisms of immune defense and inform strategies for protecting the central nervous system.
