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WuXi AppTec content team editors
We might think that while cracking tens of billions of neurons is still far away, we already know the basic structure of the brain
.
But today, a new study in Science tells us that the mystery of brain structure is far from clear.
This study is the first to identify an anatomical structure that has a dual effect: the membrane not only acts as a protective barrier for the brain, but also serves as a platform
for immune cells to monitor brain infections and inflammation.
The latest study was co-led
by Professor Kjeld Møllgård from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and Professor Maiken Nedergaard from the University of Rochester in the United States.
10 years ago, Professor Nedergaard led another blockbuster breakthrough in brain structure: her team discovered the lymphoid system
, which is made up of glial cells that remove waste from the brain.
The breakthrough also points to the complex role
of cerebrospinal fluid in transporting and cleaning up brain waste.
However, how cerebrospinal fluid is transported under the arachnoid has always been an unsolved mystery, which has become the starting point
for the latest research exploration.
The latest study focused on the meninges
that wrap around brain tissue.
It is the meninges that form the barrier between the brain and the rest of the brain, which is bathed in cerebrospinal
fluid within the barrier.
According to previous observations, the meninges are composed of
three membranes: dura, arachnoid and pia mater.
Now, with the development of neuroimaging, the scientific community has been able to study living brains
at higher resolutions.
The study's authors used two-photon microscopy, a technique capable of probing deep internal structures
in tissues.
▲ The meningeal structure of the living brain was observed by two-photon microscopy (Image source: Reference [1]).
The research team used green fluorescent protein to label Prox1 protein (a transcription factor required for lymph to function), while labeling blood vessels and astrocytes separately
.
This way, they were able to capture the structural distribution of these molecules or cells under a two-photon microscope, and the high resolution of the technique also allowed them to see structures
that had never been seen before.
In the space below the arachnoid membrane, a layer of cells containing Prox1 protein is neatly arranged and intertwined with loose collagen fibers, and this membrane divides the space under the arachnoid into two regions: inner and outer regions
.
The team named the newly discovered structure Subarachnoidal LYmphatic-like Membrane (SLYM
).
The discovery of SLYM rewrote the 3-layer membrane structure of the meningea into 3 layers (Image source: University of Copenhagen).
Of course, the structure of the empty membrane is not enough, and subsequent studies confirm that this membrane also plays a functional role in separation
.
Although SLYM is very thin, only one or a few cells thick, it forms a tight barrier that cytokines, growth factors and other small molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid cannot pass through
.
From this, SLYM separates
the "clean" from the "dirty" cerebrospinal fluid.
The authors note that the newly discovered SLYM resembles mesothelium
in other parts of the body.
For example, the membranes around our lungs and heart contain mesothelium, which not only protects organs, but also serves as a shelter for immune cells
.
Similarly, the newly studied mouse experiments have revealed the dual function
of SLYM.
▲SLYM divides the subarachnoid space into two regions, inside and outside (Image source: Reference [1]).
In the lymphatic system, the presence of SLYM directs the controlled flow of cerebrospinal fluid and the exchange of substances with venous blood: fresh cerebrospinal fluid is able to flow in while flushing away toxic proteins
associated with Alzheimer's disease or other neurological disorders.
On the other hand, SLYM also plays an important role
in the brain's immune defense mechanisms.
SLYM contains a large number of central nervous system immune cells, which are monitored on the surface of the large brain by SLYM to scan the cerebrospinal fluid flowing through it for signs of
infection.
The research team noticed that in the inflammatory, aging brain, the number and variety
of immune cells gathered on SLYM were larger.
When the brain is traumatized and SLYM is damaged, it affects the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, causing lymphoid system damage, and causing external immune cells to pass through SLYM and reach the brain - this may explain why the traumatic brain has long-term neuroinflammation
.
▲SLYM contains a large number of myeloid cells (image source: reference [1]).
The discovery of SLYM not only deepened our understanding of the structure of the brain, rewriting the structure of the meninges into 4 layers, but also gave us a deeper understanding of the workings of the lymphoid system and began to recognize the role of
SLYM in brain diseases.
According to the study, diseases such as multiple sclerosis, central nervous system infections, and Alzheimer's disease can be caused or exacerbated by SLYM dysfunction
.
It seems that on this extremely thin and light film, there are still many unknown functions waiting to be tapped
.
Cover image source: 123RF Reference: [1] Kjeld Møllgård et al.
, A mesothelium divides the subarachnoid space into functional compartments.
Nature(2023).
DOI: 10.
1126/science.
adc8810[2] Newly discovered anatomy shields and monitors brain.
Retrieved Jan.
5th, 2023 from style="outline: 0px;font-size: 10px;color: rgb(178, 178, 178);">
We might think that while cracking tens of billions of neurons is still far away, we already know the basic structure of the brain
.
But today, a new study in Science tells us that the mystery of brain structure is far from clear.
This study is the first to identify an anatomical structure that has a dual effect: the membrane not only acts as a protective barrier for the brain, but also serves as a platform
for immune cells to monitor brain infections and inflammation.
The latest study was co-led
by Professor Kjeld Møllgård from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and Professor Maiken Nedergaard from the University of Rochester in the United States.
10 years ago, Professor Nedergaard led another blockbuster breakthrough in brain structure: her team discovered the lymphoid system
, which is made up of glial cells that remove waste from the brain.
The breakthrough also points to the complex role
of cerebrospinal fluid in transporting and cleaning up brain waste.
However, how cerebrospinal fluid is transported under the arachnoid has always been an unsolved mystery, which has become the starting point
for the latest research exploration.
The latest study focused on the meninges
that wrap around brain tissue.
It is the meninges that form the barrier between the brain and the rest of the brain, which is bathed in cerebrospinal
fluid within the barrier.
According to previous observations, the meninges are composed of
three membranes: dura, arachnoid and pia mater.
Now, with the development of neuroimaging, the scientific community has been able to study living brains
at higher resolutions.
The study's authors used two-photon microscopy, a technique capable of probing deep internal structures
in tissues.
▲ The meningeal structure of the living brain was observed by two-photon microscopy (Image source: Reference [1]).
The research team used green fluorescent protein to label Prox1 protein (a transcription factor required for lymph to function), while labeling blood vessels and astrocytes separately
.
This way, they were able to capture the structural distribution of these molecules or cells under a two-photon microscope, and the high resolution of the technique also allowed them to see structures
that had never been seen before.
In the space below the arachnoid membrane, a layer of cells containing Prox1 protein is neatly arranged and intertwined with loose collagen fibers, and this membrane divides the space under the arachnoid into two regions: inner and outer regions
.
The team named the newly discovered structure Subarachnoidal LYmphatic-like Membrane (SLYM
).
The discovery of SLYM rewrote the 3-layer membrane structure of the meningea into 3 layers (Image source: University of Copenhagen).
Of course, the structure of the empty membrane is not enough, and subsequent studies confirm that this membrane also plays a functional role in separation
.
Although SLYM is very thin, only one or a few cells thick, it forms a tight barrier that cytokines, growth factors and other small molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid cannot pass through
.
From this, SLYM separates
the "clean" from the "dirty" cerebrospinal fluid.
The authors note that the newly discovered SLYM resembles mesothelium
in other parts of the body.
For example, the membranes around our lungs and heart contain mesothelium, which not only protects organs, but also serves as a shelter for immune cells
.
Similarly, the newly studied mouse experiments have revealed the dual function
of SLYM.
▲SLYM divides the subarachnoid space into two regions, inside and outside (Image source: Reference [1]).
In the lymphatic system, the presence of SLYM directs the controlled flow of cerebrospinal fluid and the exchange of substances with venous blood: fresh cerebrospinal fluid is able to flow in while flushing away toxic proteins
associated with Alzheimer's disease or other neurological disorders.
On the other hand, SLYM also plays an important role
in the brain's immune defense mechanisms.
SLYM contains a large number of central nervous system immune cells, which are monitored on the surface of the large brain by SLYM to scan the cerebrospinal fluid flowing through it for signs of
infection.
The research team noticed that in the inflammatory, aging brain, the number and variety
of immune cells gathered on SLYM were larger.
When the brain is traumatized and SLYM is damaged, it affects the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, causing lymphoid system damage, and causing external immune cells to pass through SLYM and reach the brain - this may explain why the traumatic brain has long-term neuroinflammation
.
▲SLYM contains a large number of myeloid cells (image source: reference [1]).
The discovery of SLYM not only deepened our understanding of the structure of the brain, rewriting the structure of the meninges into 4 layers, but also gave us a deeper understanding of the workings of the lymphoid system and began to recognize the role of
SLYM in brain diseases.
According to the study, diseases such as multiple sclerosis, central nervous system infections, and Alzheimer's disease can be caused or exacerbated by SLYM dysfunction
.
It seems that on this extremely thin and light film, there are still many unknown functions waiting to be tapped
.
Cover image source: 123RF Reference: [1] Kjeld Møllgård et al.
, A mesothelium divides the subarachnoid space into functional compartments.
Nature(2023).
DOI: 10.
1126/science.
adc8810[2] Newly discovered anatomy shields and monitors brain.
Retrieved Jan.
5th, 2023 from style="outline: 0px;font-size: 10px;color: rgb(178, 178, 178);">
