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Meningeal lymphatic network: The middleman of neuroinflammation
Author(s) -
Pal Sarit,
Rao Shilpa,
Louveau Antoine
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and experimental neuroimmunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 1759-1961
DOI - 10.1111/cen3.12563
Subject(s) - lymphatic system , neuroinflammation , immune system , meninges , neuroscience , central nervous system , cerebrospinal fluid , medicine , pathology , biology , immunology , disease
The central nervous system was long thought to be an immune‐privileged organ, notably because of its lack of conventional lymphatic drainage. Years of scientific observations and the recent (re)discovery of the meningeal lymphatic system has brought new insights into the relationship of the brain with the peripheral immune system. The extended meningeal lymphatic network has been shown to be a major route for the circulation of molecular and cellular cerebrospinal fluid constituents to the cervical lymph nodes, and participates in the maintenance of brain function and the development of neurological disorders. In this review, we discuss the functional anatomy of the meningeal lymphatic network, its role in neuro‐inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, and its therapeutic potential.