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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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.
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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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