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Antigen Presentation in the Central Nervous System

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From Basic Immunology to Immune-Mediated Demyelination

Part of the book series: Topics in Neuroscience ((TOPNEURO))

Abstract

Immune-privileged sites such as the central nervous system (CNS), eye and testes, are physiologically adapted to protect their delicate structures and functions from damaging inflammatory responses. Major features contributing to the immune privilege of the CNS include: the blood-brain barrier (BBB) — the tight endothelial junctions of the brain vasculature that limit access of plasma proteins and blood-derived cells to the CNS; the lack of a conventional lymphatic system; the absence within the CNS parenchyma of dendritic cells, the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APC) for initiation of T cell responses; and the paucity of class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on resident CNS cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurophysiology Unit, Laboratory of Organ and System Pathophysiology, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, V. le Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    F. Aloisi

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  1. F. Aloisi
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  1. Department of Neuroscience, S. Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

    Gianvito Martino

  2. Roche Milano Ricerche, Milan, Italy

    Luciano Adorini

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Aloisi, F. (1999). Antigen Presentation in the Central Nervous System. In: Martino, G., Adorini, L. (eds) From Basic Immunology to Immune-Mediated Demyelination. Topics in Neuroscience. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2143-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2143-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2179-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2143-3

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