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Guardians of the Brain
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Guardians of the Brain

The brain’s borders teem with an army of immune cells that monitor and protect it.

Nature, 2022


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  • Scientific
  • Eye Opening
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Recommendation

The blood-brain barrier functions as an extra protective layer to protect the brain from any potentially damaging agents in the rest of the body. It is such a strong barrier, though, that most researchers thought it separated the brain from the body’s immune system as well. But, as Diana Kwon reports in Nature, new work suggests that this separation is not as absolute as once thought. Immune cells are found in the membranes surrounding the brain, and they can send molecular signals into the nerve cells within.

Take-Aways

  • Many types of immune cells cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, but others patrol the borders and can send in signaling molecules.
  • As in the rest of the body, immune cells in the brain play vital roles in both healthy and pathological states.
  • Nerve cells and immune cells constantly communicate back and forth, each influencing the others’ behavior. 

About the Author

Diana Kwon is a freelance science journalist based in Berlin. She covers the life sciences, health and academic life. Her work has appeared in publications such as Scientific American, The Scientist, Nature and Quanta.


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