About this event
Explore the forefront of neuroscience with the LCSB Neuroscience Lecture Series, featuring scientific presentations from internationally renowned experts in various disciplines of neuroscience.
Meet the speaker! A networking aperitif with light snacks and refreshments will follow the presentation. Further one-on-one meeting opportunities with the speaker can be arranged by emailing Caroline Belot.
Understanding how the brain barriers maintain CNS immune privilege
Neuronal signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) requires tissue homeostasis, which precludes regular immune surveillance. CNS immune privilege describes the unique relationship of the CNS with the immune system. We propose that understanding CNS immune privilege requires correct consideration of the endothelial, epithelial, fibroblast and glial brain barriers that divide the CNS into compartments with distinct accessibility to immune mediators and immune cells. We have developed novel fluorescent brain barrier reporter mice and advanced in vivo CNS imaging modalities and use mouse models of neuroinflammation. This provides us with the unique opportunity to fill current knowledge gaps on the cellular and molecular makeup of the individual brain barriers with their associated Ag-presenting cells during health and in neuroinflammation and to explore the precise 3D architecture and potentially overlooked connections between the inner and outer brain barriers. Employing advanced in vivo imaging in our brain barrier reporter mice allows to understand how the brain barriers direct immune cell migration in the CNS during health and neuroinflammation. In my presentation I will outline how our studies will contribute to filling the knowledge gaps on the molecular and anatomical landscape of the individual brain barriers and provide insights on their orchestrated function as neuroimmunological interfaces shaping CNS immune privilege.
About the speaker
Britta Engelhardt uses advanced in vitro and in vivo live cell imaging approaches to explore the role of the brain barriers in CNS immune surveillance and neuroinflammation. She is an opinion leader in the field and serves as Vice-President/President Elect of the International Brain Barriers Society.
The Causal Analysis of Biomedical Data Lecture Series is supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) RESCOM Program.
