Neuro-immune interactions in the postnatal ventricular-subventricular zone.

As described in this book, the interaction between the immune system and the brain can affect multiple cerebral functions, such as: neural remodeling, synaptic plasticity or neurotransmitter releasing. Neurogenic niches are not the exception, in fact, pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines exert a strong regulation in neural stem cells (NSCs) of the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) by interacting with cell membrane receptors and activating multiple downstream pathways. These neuro-immune interactions modulate quiescence, cell adhesion, migration, self-renewal, differentiation, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and cell survival. In this chapter, we describe the cellular composition and cytoarchitecture of the main neurogenic niche in the adult mammalian brain: the V-SVZ. We also discuss the current evidence indicating that many immunological molecules can control the function of this neurogenic niche in the adult brain under both physiological and pathological conditions.