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T cell targeting of CNS neurons| old_uid | 11970 |
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| title | T cell targeting of CNS neurons |
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| start_date | 2013/01/07 |
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| schedule | 11h |
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| online | no |
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| details | Invité par Anne Baron-Van Evercooren |
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| summary | The CNS is confronted to a double challenge regarding its interactions with the immune system. On the one hand it should allow the immune system to fight invading pathogens and on the other it should prevent inflammatory damage given its vital functions and poorly regenerative capacity. A series of mechanisms, collectively referred to as ‘immune privilege’, ensures that immune reactions are kept minimal and are rapidly controlled within the CNS. However, accumulating evidence show that T cells readily penetrate the brain and spinal cord parenchyma in numerous inflammatory, infectious or degenerative neurological diseases. The consequence for CNS resident cells, and more specifically for neurons, of their encounter with activated T cells is a question that we have addressed recently using experimental rodent models. I will present our efforts to understand how cytotoxic CD8 T cells and helper CD4 T cells can target neuronal antigens and thereby contribute to CNS tissue damage. Intriguingly, some autoreactive T cells recognize several autoantigens but the functional significance of such ‘cross-reactivity’ is not fully understood. We have identified, in mice, autoreactive CD4 T cells recognizing both MOG and NF-M and have investigated their pathogenic contribution using animals deficient for one or the other self-antigens. Shedding light on the mechanisms by which T cells promote CNS tissue damage may allow the design of more refined therapeutic strategies for immune-mediated neurologica l diseases, including multiple sclerosis. |
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| responsibles | Miles |
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