The immune system and the developing brain /
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
San Rafael, Calif. (1537 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA) :
Morgan and Claypool,
[2012]
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| Series: | Colloquium digital library of life sciences.
Colloquium series on the developing brain. # 4. |
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| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Abstract: | The developing brain is exquisitely sensitive to both endogenous and exogenous signals which direct or significantly alter the developmental trajectory of cells, neural circuits, and associated behavioral outcomes for the life of the individual. Contrary to initial dogma that the brain is one of the few organs within the body that is immune-privileged, evidence indicates that the immune system has a critical role in brain function during development as well as during sickness and health in adulthood. Microglia are the primary immune cells within the brain, and they are in constant communication with the peripheral immune system and surrounding cell types within the brain. We describe the important role of the immune system, including microglia, during brain development, and discuss some of the many ways in which immune activation during early brain development can affect the later-life outcomes of neural function, immune function, and cognition. Growing evidence indicates that there is a strong link between many neuropsychiatric disorders and immune dysfunction, with a distinct etiology in neurodevelopment. Thus, understanding the role of the immune system and immune activation during the critical period of brain development is a necessary step toward understanding the potential origins of these devastating disorders. |
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| Item Description: | Electronic resource. Part of: Colloquium digital library of life sciences. Series from website. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (ix, 118 pages) : illustrations Also available in printing. |
| Format: | Mode of access: World Wide Web. System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 85-115). |
| ISBN: | 9781615043521 (electronic bk.) |
| ISSN: | 2159-5208 ; |
| DOI: | 10.4199/C00045ED1V01Y201110DBR004 |
| Access: | Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers. |