Roundtable Discussion: Mapping the CNS Immune Environment & the Interplay of Innate & Adaptive Immunity to Advance Therapeutic Strategies
- Exploring the role of microglia and astrocytes as central innate immune effectors driving neuroinflammation and contributing to disease pathology in disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, while examining how shared immune targets are uniquely regulated in CNS-resident cells
- The diverse functions of adaptive immune cells including effector T cells, regulatory T cells, and B cells in CNS infiltration, antigen-specific responses, and disease modulation
- Mechanisms of immune checkpoint regulation and antigen presentation that control lymphocyte trafficking and activation within the CNS, highlighting potential therapeutic targets
- Challenges and opportunities in developing therapies that modulate innate and adaptive immunity, including timing, CNS penetration, and avoiding detrimental immunosuppression
- The critical balance between pro-inflammatory and neuroprotective immune activities, emphasizing the need for precise immune modulation to promote CNS repair while limiting damage