Updating Neuroimmune Targets in Central Nervous System Dysfunction

Abstract

Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) have many etiologies compounded by limited options for treatment. The lack of successful treatments for these disorders stems from the difficulty of gaining effective access to the CNS through the blood-brain barrier, and the irreplaceable nature of neurons. Here, we review recent advances in the field of neuroimmunology and discuss novel strategies for targeting microglia, meningeal lymphatics, and the peripheral immune system that may lead to successful treatment of a broad range of CNS disorders. In the future, it will be important to continue to explore the vast communications between the CNS and the immune system to map out dysfunctions that attribute to diseases such as chronic neuroinflammation, autoimmunity, CNS injury, and more.

Keywords: brain engrafting macrophages; central nervous system; lymphatics; meninges; microglia; neuroimmunology.