Immune compartments at the brain's borders in health and neurovascular diseases

Abstract

Recent evidence implicates cranial border immune compartments in the meninges, choroid plexus, circumventricular organs, and skull bone marrow in several neuroinflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Their pathogenic importance has also been described for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and stroke. In this review, we will examine the cellular composition of these cranial border immune niches, the potential pathways through which they might interact, and the evidence linking them to cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Border-associated immune cells; Brain; Calvaria; Choroid plexus; Cirumventricular organs; Hypertension; Meninges; Neuroinflammation; Skull bone marrow; Stroke.