Are T Cells to Blame for Cognitive Impairment Caused by Hypertension?
In the dura, these lymphocytes release interleukin 17, activating perivascular macrophages. They curb cerebral blood flow, and mice become forgetful.
NEWS
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SPOTLIGHT
Are T Cells to Blame for Cognitive Impairment Cause by Hypertension?
An immune response in the brain may be to blame for cognitive impairment caused by hypertension, scientists say. In mice with high blood pressure, interleukin-17 damaged the microvasculature in two ways. Inside small blood vessels, IL-17 bound endothelial cells, preventing vasodilation. In the brain, IL-17 made by T cells in the dura activated perivascular macrophages to release reactive oxygen species, which the scientists suspect damaged nearby blood vessels. Both actions of IL-17 hindered memory. Knocking out these macrophages, or dural T cells, improved blood flow and restored cognition.
Evolution of a Tau Filament
Tau’s journey from a disordered monomer to the stable, disease-specific filaments found in AD brain samples is marked by sidetracks. In vitro, tau morphed into numerous conformations before settling into the shapes found in the brains of people with AD or CTE. Scientists identified a common protofibril that gave rise to both flavors of filament.
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