Immune surveillance of neural stem cells

2022

Antigen presentation through major histocompatibility complexes and the subsequent immune surveillance by cytotoxic T lymphocytes is considered a preventive mechanism against damaged or infected cells. At the same time, the central nervous system has long been considered an isolated territory where immune responses could not be fully developed. However, in the light of recent findings, these assumptions need to be revisited. On one hand, it has been demonstrated that quiescent adult stem cells down-regulate antigen exposure and evade immune surveillance in the hair follicle and the muscle. On the other hand, the identification of lymphatic routes for the drainage of brain-derived antigens h…