Les caractéristiques structurelles et fonctionnelles des vaisseaux lymphatiques du système nerveux central

Traduction: G.M.

 

Nature. 2015 Jun 1. doi: 10.1038/nature14432.

Structural and functional features of central nervous system lymphatic vessels

Louveau A¹, Smirnov I¹, Keyes TJ¹, Eccles JD², Rouhani SJ³, Peske JD³, Derecki NC¹, Castle D⁴, Mandell JW⁵, Lee KS⁶, Harris TH¹, Kipnis J⁷.

Author information

• ¹1] Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [2] Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
• ²1] Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [2] Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [3] Department of Medicine (Division of Allergy), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
• ³1] Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [2] Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [3] Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
• ⁴Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
• ⁵Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
• ⁶1] Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [2] Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [3] Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
• ⁷1] Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [2] Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA [3] Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.

Abstract

One of the characteristics of the central nervous system is the lack of a classical lymphatic drainage system. Although it is now accepted that the central nervous system undergoes constant immune surveillance that takes place within the meningeal compartment, the mechanisms governing the entrance and exit of immune cells from the central nervous system remain poorly understood. In searching for T-cell gateways into and out of the meninges, we discovered functional lymphatic vessels lining the dural sinuses. These structures express all of the molecular hallmarks of lymphatic endothelial cells, are able to carry both fluid and immune cells from the cerebrospinal fluid, and are connected to the deep cervical lymph nodes. The unique location of these vessels may have impeded their discovery to date, thereby contributing to the long-held concept of the absence of lymphatic vasculature in the central nervous system. The discovery of the central nervous system lymphatic system may call for a reassessment of basic assumptions in neuroimmunology and sheds new light on the aetiology of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases associated with immune system dysfunction.

Résumé

Une des caractéristiques du système nerveux central est l'absence d'un système de drainage lymphatique classique. Bien que il est maintenant admis que le système nerveux central subit la surveillance immunitaire constante qui prend place dans le compartiment méningée, les mécanismes régissant l'entrée et la sortie des cellules immunitaires du système nerveux central restent mal compris. Dans la recherche de passerelles de cellules T dans et hors des méninges, nous avons découvert des vaisseaux lymphatiques fonctionnels qui tapissent les sinus veineux. Ces structures expriment toutes les caractéristiques moléculaires des cellules endothéliales lymphatiques, sont en mesure de transporter à la fois des cellules immunitaires fluides et du liquide céphalo-rachidien, et sont reliées à des ganglions lymphatiques cervicaux profonds. La situation unique de ces vaisseaux a entravé leur découverte à ce jour, contribuant ainsi de longue date à la notion d'absence de  vascularisation lymphatique dans le système nerveux central. La découverte du système lymphatique du système nerveux central peut demander une réévaluation des hypothèses de base dans la neuro-immunologie et jette un éclairage nouveau sur l'étiologie des maladies neuro-inflammatoires et neurodégénératives  associées à un dysfonctionnement du système immunitaire.

PMID: 26030524