ABOVE: A slice of the medial prefrontal cortex of a naïve mouse stained with markers for the receptors for IL-17a (cyan), inhibitory neurons (green), and excitatory neurons (magenta). COURTESY OF KALIL ALVES DE LIMA
Tcells in the lining of the brain control anxiety-like behaviors in mice, researchers report today (September 14) in Nature Immunology. The findings add to mounting experimental evidence that these immune cells are involved in more than fighting infection and may even contribute to cognitive functions. Commensal bacteria in the gut influence those T cells and may also shape the animals’ behavior, the scientists’ experiments show.
“I think the biggest, most important finding is that these T cells are releasing a signaling molecule, not in response to any kind of infection or threat, to make sure that mice are not taking unnecessary risk,” says study coauthor Kalil Alves de Lima, an immunologist at Washington University in St. ...
