"Science" sub-issue cover: More pictures to show you clearly, how the brain clears viral infections

in the journal ScienceA very interesting study is reported on the cover of the June issue of the Journal of ImmunologyUsing microscope technology, scientists have seen the brain's ability to remove viral infectionsThey also found a class of cells that played a key role in itin the paper, the scientists point out that a viral infection in the central nervous system can have very serious consequencesAfter all, our brain cells are hard to renew, and one is less likely to diehowever, some of the phenomena we have observed are very puzzlingThe olfactory system we use to feel the flowers provides a fast lane to the brainHowever, we rarely hear cases of fatal brain damage due to a nose infectionWhy is this?that's the question that scientists want to answer in this studyThey used mice as models to infect a dangerous virus called the herpes stymatitis virus (VSV)Theoretically, the virus can enter the brain through a nasal infectionThis allows scientists to observe the corresponding immune responsenot, after a viral infection, there is a very strong immune response in the brainThe researchers observed that the antiviral"cytotoxic lymphocytes" near the smelling sphere of the infected brain significantly slowed down and began to remove the virushow do these lymphocytes identify the virus? Subsequent studies observed an unexpected phenomenon: the type of brain cells called "small glial cells" that tell the lymphocytes about the virus's "looks" Although they themselves are not infected with the virus, they can obtain the virus antigens from nearby neurons and attach them to themselves for lymphocyte identification this may play a very important role in maintaining brain function If lymphocytes see infected nerve cells, they start attacking indiscriminately, which can solve the problem of viral infections, but can also leave irreversible damage to the brain's cognitive abilities Under the guidance of small glial cells, lymphocytes can be used in a non-killing method to remove viral infections in the brain "We don't want T-cells to enter the brain and kill things they shouldn't kill," said E Professor Ashley Moseman said: "Small glial cells have acquired antigens in one way and are presentin in this region, but avoid some complications, such as killing nerve cells "
researchers have also confirmed the importance of these small glial cells When small glial cells in the brains of mice were reduced, T-cells' ability to recognize viruses was weakened These mice were also more likely to die after being infected with the virus in related news reports, one of the early symptoms of the new coronavirus infection is the loss of smell and taste Will the new crown virus enter the brain? How can we prevent it? We don't know yet But this paper has undoubtedly given us a new understanding of the immune response in the brain (
Bio valley Bioon.com) .