Humoral immunity at the brain borders in homeostasis

Abstract

The meninges encase the brain and spinal cord and house a variety of immune cells, including developing and mature B cells, and antibody-secreting plasma cells. In homeostasis, these cells localize around the dural venous sinuses, providing a defense 'zone' to protect the brain and spinal cord from blood-borne pathogens. Dural plasma cells predominantly secrete IgA antibodies, and some originate from the gastrointestinal tract, with the number and antibody isotype shaped by the gut microbiome. For developing B cells arriving from the adjacent bone marrow, the dura provides a site to tolerize against central nervous system antigens. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of meningeal humoral immunity in homeostasis.