Sneak Peek #43: The brain’s gatekeepers

Immune cells called regulatory T cells have long been known for their role in countering inflammation. In the setting of infection, these so-called Tregs keep the immune system from going into overdrive and mistakenly attacking the body’s own organs.

Now scientists at Harvard Medical School have discovered a distinct population of Tregs dwelling in the protective layers of the brains of healthy mice, and their repertoire is much broader than inflammation control.