Brain-Immune Link Discovered

In what has been termed a “stunning discovery that overturns decades of textbook teaching,” researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have found that the brain is directly connected to the immune system by lymphatic vessels previously thought not to exist. According to Jonathan Kipnis, a professor in the Department of Neuroscience and director of the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, “It changes entirely the way we perceive the neuro-immune interaction. . .We believe that for every neurological disease that has an immune component to it, these vessels may play a major role.” The discovery was made possible by the work of Antoine Louveau, a postdoctoral fellow in Kipnis’ lab. More tomorrow.