ERC Starting Grant · 2024
Immune mechanisms of experience induced brain plasticity: the contribution of brain resident T cells
T cells are part of the adaptive immune response. Breaking the dogma of the brain immune privilege I demonstrated the presence of T cells in the healthy brain. In the mouse brain they regulate neuronal morphology and behavior. Surprisingly, brain T cells respond and proliferate upon exposure to an enriched environment (EE), suggesting a connection between neural activity and brain T cells. EE involves motoric, sensory and social stimulation. Exposure of rodents to EE increases neurogenesis, enhances learning and memory, with proven beneficial effect in neuropathology. How brain T cells can respond to EE and eventually modify the brain is unknown. I hypothesize that upon EE, T cells adapt…
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