When Is the Immune System Welcome? Neuroimmune Interactions in the Healthy Nervous Tissue and Immunomodulatory Strategies to Improve Neuropathological Conditions

The interplay between the nervous and the immune systems has been the subject of a growing number of studies. In the past, some peculiarities of the central nervous system (CNS), such as the presence of a selective blood-brain barrier, the absence of lymphatic vessels in the parenchyma, and the lack of microglia migration to peripheral lymph nodes for antigenic presentation, among others, suggested that the CNS was devoid of interaction with the immune system. In this sense, the presence of immune cells and molecules, such as cytokines, antibodies, and complement system proteins was traditionally associated with neurodegenerative conditions, basing therapies that aimed at ablating the immune response in an attempt to avoid further damages. In addition to immune cells, glial cells also respond to local and systemic disturbances, most often developing immune functions. Thus, many therapies were also focused on limiting or constricting glial cell reactivity, disregarding the protective activity of such response.

However, that scenario has deeply changed, especially with the development of immunomodulatory strategies, such as prevention, attenuation, induction, amplification or pattern switch of the immune response to promote neuroprotection and regeneration, according to the disease/injury and its occurrence (central or peripheral nervous system). Moreover, many studies have reported the role of immune system cells and molecules for the maintenance and functionality of the nervous tissue at a steady state.

In view of the above, this Research Topic aims at studies that explore the neuroimmune interactions at the healthy nervous system, and how the modulation of the immune response may be beneficial for the stagnation or recovery of nervous system damaging conditions.

In a more detailed way, we are interested in research papers or review articles focused on:

i)                 the role of immune system molecules in the maintenance of healthy nervous tissue;

ii)                the development and the mechanisms of action of immunomodulatory strategies (drug treatments and delivery, cell therapy, healthy-life habits, among others) for the treatment of:

a.     CNS traumatic lesions, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases;

b.     nerve regeneration following trauma or other neuropathic conditions. 

Dr. R. Thome is working as Scientific Investigator for the company GlaxoSmithKline.

The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic