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Researchers in the Netherlands, the Brain Institute and Amsterdam UMC, have mapped how T-cells can protect the brain for a long time against viruses. The results of the research, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications are important for studying the role of the immune system in various diseases of the brain.
Abandonment System
The immune system protects the body against infections and cancer. The so-called T cells play the key role in this regard. If the T cells are not properly adjusted, this can lead to inflammation of the brain, among other things. Until recently, the properties of these cells in the healthy brain were poorly known. "We now have more knowledge about the location of T cells in the brain, their appearance, their composition in inflammatory substances and their control," says researcher and neurologist Joost Smolders in training.
The researchers found two proteins (CTLA-4 and PD-1) that are in large quantities on the T cells. These proteins, for which the Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded this year to the discoverers, are an important inhibitor. T lymphocytes
T lymphocytes
"If we know better the normal rules of the game, which are the T lymphocytes of the brain adhere to, we can understand where the T cells get away from that in diseases This can lead to advances in the understanding and treatment of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, but also in the treatment of brain tumors. "
Brain Donors
With financial support from the MS Research Foundation researchers have T cells from brain tissue of brain donors from the Dutch brain bank (NHB). "To understand the role of the immune system in brain disease, a donor program such as NHB is critically important.The quality of the material allows for unique research."
Article: T-cells of tissue resident memory Populate the human brain, Nature Communications, doi: https: //10.1038/s41467-018-07053-9.
The Netherlands Brain Institute
The Netherlands Brain Institute is an institute of the Royal Academy of Arts and Science of the Netherlands (KNAW), conducting basic and strategic scientific research in the field of neuroscience, focusing on research on the brain and the visual system.
Dutch Brain Bank
The Dutch Brain Bank (NHB) gathers brain tissue well documented after the death of brain donors enrolled in life for scientific research projects in the UK The NHB is part of the Nederlands Herseninstituut, an institute of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences of the Netherlands (KNAW).
Source: Nederlands Herseninstituut
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