The considerable metabolic activity of the central nervous system (CNS) requires an efficient system of tissue drainage and detoxification. The CNS is however devoid of lymphatic vessels, a vasculature ensuring interstitial fluid drainage and immune survey in other organs. A unique system of drainage has recently been identified between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), brain interstitial fluids and meningeal lymphatic vessels. ⋯ The "glymphatic" system includes perivascular spaces and astrocytes, and drains interstitial fluids, from and towards the CSF. Meningeal lymphatic vessels are functionally linked to the cerebral "glymphatic" efflux by clearing intracerebral macromolecules and antigens towards the peripheral lymphatic system. The "glymphatic"-"meningeal lymphatics" system is potentially offering new therapeutic targets to improve cerebral drainage and immune survey in human CNS diseases.
Jean-Léon Thomas, Laurent Jacob, and Ligia Boisserand.
UMRS1127, Sorbonne Université, Institut du cerveau et de la moelle épinière, 7, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France - Department of neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 065... more 11, États-Unis. less