Scientists Have Discovered A New “organ”

It is hidden inside the skull.

Biologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered previously unknown immune structures inside the skull bones of mice. The researchers suggest that such an “organ” may also be present in humans, helping the immune system recognize and attack brain tumors. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.

The scientists discovered the unusual structures in the skull bone marrow of mice. They turned out to be similar to germinal centers—areas of the lymphatic system where immune B cells undergo “training” and begin to develop defenses against specific threats.

This discovery was made possible by previous research conducted by the same scientific team. The scientists identified small channels that run from brain tissue through the dura mater directly into the skull bones. In the new study, using fluorescent markers, they tracked the movement of molecules through these channels and discovered a connection between the brain and the immune structures of the bone marrow.

The researchers named the discovered structures “localized lymphoid structures.” Their location may be significant: immune cells are situated directly adjacent to the brain and are capable of rapidly responding to pathological processes occurring within it.

To test the role of these structures, the scientists conducted experiments on mice with glioma—an aggressive brain tumor. When the activity of the discovered immune structures was suppressed, the tumors grew faster, and the animals’ lifespan was shortened. Conversely, stimulating these structures using three immunologically active proteins enhanced the antitumor response and increased the mice’s survival rate.

Scientists cannot yet say for certain that the same system exists in humans. However, follicular T cells have previously been detected in the bone marrow of the human skull, which may indicate the presence of similar immune structures. If the existence of this mechanism in humans is confirmed, the discovery could lead to a new approach to treating brain diseases without direct intervention in the tissue.

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