Nature: A big breakthrough! For the first time, a substellular group of astrological glial cells in the brain is found to receive signals from gut bacteria to fight inflammation

January 27, 2021 /--- -- Star-shaped glial cells are the most abundant cell types in the central nervous system, but their characteristics are still not clear.
Scientists have long believed that the primary function of astrological glial cells is to provide nutrition and support for nerve cells in the brain that are more closely watched;
Now, in a new study, a team led by researchers from the Bregan Women's Hospital in the United States has shown that a specific substellular group of astrogenic glial cells can have the opposite effect: protective anti-inflammatory functions in the brain based on signals regulated by bacteria that reside in the gut.
study was recently published in the Journal of Nature under the title "Gut-licensed IFN plus NK cells drive LAMP1 plus TRAIL plus anti-edy astrocytes".
images from Nature, 2021, doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03116-4.
"Over the years, many laboratories, including mine, have identified the important role of astrological glial cells in promoting neurological diseases," said Dr. Francisco Quintana of the Ann-Romney Center for Neurology at Bregan Women's Hospital, author of the paper.
this is the first time we have confirmed that at least one subteum of these cells (as astrological glial cells) can prevent inflammation.
we haven't seen this before because we look at these cells as consistent, a single cell type.
but now we have a resolution that distinguishes the differences between these cells.
used optimized gene and protein analysis tools to identify new star glial cell substations.
groups of astroid glial cells distributed near the meninges (the membranes that surround the brain) express a protein called LAMP1, and a protein called RAIL, which induces the death of other cells.
these characteristics help LAMP1-TRAIL-asstary glial cells limit inflammation in the central nervous system by inducing the death of T-cells that promote inflammation.
to determine what mechanism controls THE LAMP1-TRAIL-star glial cells in the brain, the researchers conducted a series of tests using the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9.
they found that a special signaling molecule γ interferon can regulate the expression of RAIL.
in addition, they found that the gut microbiome induces interferons γ expressed in natural killer cells (NK cells) that circulate through the body and eventually reach the meninges, where they promote anti-inflammatory activity in astrocytes.
understanding of the mechanisms that drive the anti-inflammatory function of LAMP1-TRAIL-astrocytes may allow the researchers to develop treatments for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
, for example, they are exploring probiotic candidates that can be used to regulate the anti-inflammatory activity of astrocytes.
, their recent data show that some brain tumours use this pathway to evade the body's immune response.
, they are developing cancer immunotherapy to avenge tumor attacks.
Quintana said, "Finding the astrological glial cell anti-inflammatory subgroups controlled by the gut microbiome is an important advance in our understanding of inflammation of the central nervous system and its regulation.
this is a very new mechanism for the gut to control inflammation in the brain.
it has guided the development of new therapies for neurological diseases, a mechanism we believe may help shed light on the pathogenesis of brain tumours.
" Quintana lab in 2016 found the only known subgroup of astrological glial cells regulated by the gut microbiome, but the researchers believe there may be other subgroups.
, "It's becoming increasingly clear that gut bacteria are important in many diseases.
we are fortunate that we have been leading the way in identifying different sub-groups of astrical glial cells and the mechanisms that control them.
we have a list of other groups of astroid glial cells, and we're working on how the gut bacteria control them.
" (Bioon.com) Reference: 1. Liliana M. Sanmarco et al. Gut-licensed IFNγ+ NK cells drive LAMP1+TRAIL+ anti-inflammatory astrocytes. Nature, 2021, doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03116-4.2.Newly Discovered Subset of Brain Cells Fight Inflammation with Instructions from the Gut