A scRNA-seq atlas of immune cells at the CNS borders

The meninges are the peripheral interface of the central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the dura, arachnoid, and pia mater.

The dura mater has a bone-lining periosteal layer and an inner meningeal/serous layer that separate to accommodate the dural venous sinuses, around which immune cells congregate.

Immunological cues may derive from the local tissues drained by the dural venous sinuses, alerting immune cells to CNS “intrinsic” perturbations, but also systemically generated immune stimuli, cells, or blood-borne microbes.

Here, we have generated an “atlas” of immune cells lining the CNS borders of mice under homeostasis, by integrating 6 independent published scRNA-seq datasets.

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For details on datasets used, and to cite: 10.1016/j.coi.2022.102188

Selected references

  1. di Marco Barros, R., Fitzpatrick, Z. & Clatworthy, M. R. The gut-meningeal immune axis: Priming brain defense against the most likely invaders. Journal of Experimental Medicine 219, (2022). PubMed
  2. Posner, D. A., Lee, C. Y., Portet, A. & Clatworthy, M. R. Humoral immunity at the brain borders in homeostasis. Curr Opin Immunol 76, 102188 (2022). PubMed
  3. Fitzpatrick, Z. et al. Gut-educated IgA plasma cells defend the meningeal venous sinuses. Nature 2020 587:7834 587, 472-476 (2020). PubMed

Contributors

Colin YC Lee


Postdoctoral Fellow
Wellcome Sanger Institute

Zewen K Tuong


Postdoctoral Fellow
Wellcome Sanger Institute

Menna R Clatworthy

Director of Clinical Studies, Pembroke College
Associate Faculty Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Funding