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. 1990 Mar-Apr;63(2):121–131.

Passage of immunomodulators across the blood-brain barrier.

J T Stitt 1
PMCID: PMC2589307  PMID: 2119089

Abstract

The question is considered of how and where cytokines, such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), that are released into the circulation during the host defense response, reach and interact with the central nervous system to produce fever or act as neuroimmunomodulators. Evidence is presented suggesting a role for a brain circumventricular organ (CVO) in this respect. Several interactions between a specific CVO, the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT) and endogenous pyrogen (EP) in the production of fever are reviewed. A more general hypothesis is developed on a role for the brain CVOs in monitoring the blood concentrations of several proteins and complex polypeptides such as the circulating endocrines that are regulated via the autonomic nervous system. A proposed connection between the release of prostaglandin E (PGE) at the blood-brain interface in response to infection and the ability of the brain to maintain an immunoprivileged status in the face of exposure of its CVOs to foreign antigens is discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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