Neuroimmunology - the past, present and future

Nutma, E., Willison, H. , Martino, G. and Amor, S. (2019) Neuroimmunology - the past, present and future. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 197(3), pp. 278-293. (doi: 10.1111/cei.13279) (PMID:30768789) (PMCID:PMC6693969)

Abstract

Neuroimmunology as a separate discipline has its roots in the fields of neurology, neuroscience and immunology. Early studies of the brain by Golgi and Cajal, the detailed clinical and neuropathology studies of Charcot and Thompson’s seminal paper on graft acceptance in the central nervous system, kindled a now rapidly expanding research area, with the aim of understanding pathological mechanisms of inflammatory components of neurological disorders. While neuroimmunologists originally focused on classical neuroinflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and infections, there is strong evidence to suggest that the immune response contributes to genetic white matter disorders, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, peripheral nervous system and neuro‐oncological conditions, as well as ageing. Technological advances have greatly aided our knowledge of how the immune system influences the nervous system during development and ageing, and how such responses contribute to disease as well as regeneration and repair. Here, we highlight historical aspects and milestones in the field of neuroimmunology and discuss the paradigm shifts that have helped provide novel insights into disease mechanisms. We propose future perspectives including molecular biological studies and experimental models that may have the potential to push many areas of neuroimmunology. Such an understanding of neuroimmunology will open up new avenues for therapeutic approaches to manipulate neuroinflammation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Willison, Professor Hugh
• Authors: Nutma, E., Willison, H., Martino, G., and Amor, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: Clinical and Experimental Immunology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0009-9104
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2249
• Published Online: 15 February 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Clinical and Experimental Immunology 197(3):278-293
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License