Functional analysis of myeloid cell populations in Toxoplasma encephalitis

常驻小胶质细胞和募集骨髓细胞是中枢神经系统损伤和炎症的重要调节因子。最近的报道表明，募集的骨髓细胞是一种异种细胞群，彼此之间以及相对于小胶质细胞的功能存在差异。免疫功能低下患者的弓形虫脑炎（TE）与严重的病理和白细胞进入中枢神经系统有关。由于TE的小鼠模型为我们研究中枢神经系统中的细胞免疫反应和宿主病原体相互作用提供了极好的机会，我们将使用该模型分析不同髓细胞亚群的功能和行为。我们的重点将放在Ly6Chi单核细胞上，我们最近发现它是肠道弓形虫病的保护细胞群。此外，我们将研究新描述的粘附分子Ninjurin-1在单核细胞募集到中枢神经系统中的作用。最后，新发现的单核细胞群的功能，从脾脏动员到发炎组织，将在TE中被表征。这些实验将为先天免疫在脑感染中的作用提供重要的新见解。

Resident microglia cells and recruited myeloid cells are important modulators of the central nervous system (CNS) damage and inflammation. Recent reports indicate that recruited myeloid cells represent a heterogenus group of cells with functional differences among each other and with respect to microglia. Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) in immunocompromised patients is associated with severe pathology and leukocyte entry to the CNS. Since the murine model of TE give us an excellent opportunity to study cellular immune reactions and host pathogen interaction in the CNS, we will use this model to analyse the function and behaviour of different myeloid subpopulations. Our focus will be on the Ly6Chi monocytes, which we recently identified as a protective cell population in intestinal toxoplasmosis. In addition we will study the role of the newly described adhesions molecule Ninjurin-1 in the monocyte recruitment to the CNS. Finally, the function of the newly identified monocyte population, which is mobilized from the spleen and homes to inflamed tissue, will be characterized in TE. These experiments will provide important new insights into the role of innate immunity in cerebral infections.