Topic: adaptive immunity

Jang Hyun Park discusses how adaptive immunity monitors the central nervous system through lymphoid structures in skull bone marrow. The study identifies germinal-centre-like formations containing follicular-helper-like T cells that promote B-cell activation and humoral responses through CD40L, IL-21 and interferon-gamma signalling. In mouse models, these cells respond to CNS-derived antigens and contribute to anti-tumour immunity in the brain. The findings establish a local site of antigen-specific CNS surveillance and raise questions about its role across neurological diseases.

Dr. Pasinetti is the Saunders Family Chair and Professor of Neurology at Icahn School of medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. His studies allowed him to develop novel therapeutic approaches through investigation of preventable risk factors including mood disorders in the promotion of resilience against neurodegenerative disorder. In his presentation Dr. Pasinetti will discuss novel concepts about the gut-brain axis in mechanisms associated to peripheral adaptive immunity as therapeutic targets to mitigate the onset and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other form of dementia.