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Ravid Shechter

Bio: Ravid Shechter is an academic researcher from Weizmann Institute of Science. The author has contributed to research in topics: Neurogenesis & Central nervous system. The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 23 publications receiving 3659 citations.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using a mouse model of spinal injury, Michal Schwartz and colleagues tested the effect of macrophages on the recovery process and demonstrate an important anti-inflammatory role for a subset of infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophage that is dependent upon their expression of interleukin 10.
Abstract: Background: Although macrophages (MW) are known as essential players in wound healing, their contribution to recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) is a subject of debate. The difficulties in distinguishing between different MW subpopulations at the lesion site have further contributed to the controversy and led to the common view of MW as functionally homogenous. Given the massive accumulation in the injured spinal cord of activated resident microglia, which are the native immune occupants of the central nervous system (CNS), the recruitment of additional infiltrating monocytes from the peripheral blood seems puzzling. A key question that remains is whether the infiltrating monocyte-derived MW contribute to repair, or represent an unavoidable detrimental response. The hypothesis of the current study is that a specific population of infiltrating monocyte-derived MW is functionally distinct from the inflammatory resident microglia and is essential for recovery from SCI. Methods and Findings: We inflicted SCI in adult mice, and tested the effect of infiltrating monocyte-derived MW on the recovery process. Adoptive transfer experiments and bone marrow chimeras were used to functionally distinguish between the resident microglia and the infiltrating monocyte-derived MW. We followed the infiltration of the monocyte-derived MW

694 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Following CNS injury, in an apparently counterintuitive response, scar tissue formation inhibits axonal growth, imposing a major barrier to regeneration.
Abstract: Following CNS injury, in an apparently counterintuitive response, scar tissue formation inhibits axonal growth, imposing a major barrier to regeneration. Accordingly, scar-modulating treatments have become a leading therapeutic goal in the field of spinal cord injury. However, increasing evidence suggests a beneficial role for this scar tissue as part of the endogenous local immune regulation and repair process. How can these opposing effects be reconciled? Perhaps it is all a matter of timing.

586 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study identified Toll-like receptors as players in adult neurogenesis and emphasizes their specified and diverse role in cell renewal.
Abstract: Neurogenesis — the formation of new neurons in the adult brain — is considered to be one of the mechanisms by which the brain maintains its lifelong plasticity in response to extrinsic and intrinsic changes1. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of neurogenesis are largely unknown. Here, we show that Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a family of highly conserved pattern-recognizing receptors involved in neural system development in Drosophila2 and innate immune activity in mammals3,4, regulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis. We show that TLR2 and TLR4 are found on adult neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) and have distinct and opposing functions in NPC proliferation and differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. TLR2 deficiency in mice impaired hippocampal neurogenesis, whereas the absence of TLR4 resulted in enhanced proliferation and neuronal differentiation. In vitro studies further indicated that TLR2 and TLR4 directly modulated self-renewal and the cell-fate decision of NPCs. The activation of TLRs on the NPCs was mediated via MyD88 and induced PKCα/β-dependent activation of the NF-κB signalling pathway. Thus, our study identified TLRs as players in adult neurogenesis and emphasizes their specified and diverse role in cell renewal.

559 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
21 Mar 2013-Immunity
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the route of monocyte entry to central nervous system provides an instructional environment to shape their function, and the homing of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory macrophages to traumatized spinal cord was distinctly regulated.

528 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is proposed that cell entry to immune-privileged sites through barriers composed of tight junction-interconnected endothelium is associated with destructive inflammation, whereas border structures comprised of fenestrated vasculature enveloped by tightly regulated epithelium serve as active and selective immune-skewing gates in the steady state.
Abstract: Complex barriers separate immune-privileged tissues from the circulation. Here, we propose that cell entry to immune-privileged sites through barriers composed of tight junction-interconnected endothelium is associated with destructive inflammation, whereas border structures comprised of fenestrated vasculature enveloped by tightly regulated epithelium serve as active and selective immune-skewing gates in the steady state. Based on emerging knowledge of the central nervous system and information from other immune-privileged sites, we propose that these sites are endowed either with absolute endothelial-based barriers and epithelial gates that enable selective and educative transfer of trafficking leukocytes or with selective epithelial gates only.

321 citations


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The four stages of orderly inflammation mediated by macrophages are discussed: recruitment to tissues; differentiation and activation in situ; conversion to suppressive cells; and restoration of tissue homeostasis.
Abstract: Macrophages are strategically located throughout the body tissues, where they ingest and process foreign materials, dead cells and debris and recruit additional macrophages in response to inflammatory signals They are highly heterogeneous cells that can rapidly change their function in response to local microenvironmental signals In this Review, we discuss the four stages of orderly inflammation mediated by macrophages: recruitment to tissues; differentiation and activation in situ; conversion to suppressive cells; and restoration of tissue homeostasis We also discuss the protective and pathogenic functions of the various macrophage subsets in antimicrobial defence, antitumour immune responses, metabolism and obesity, allergy and asthma, tumorigenesis, autoimmunity, atherosclerosis, fibrosis and wound healing Finally, we briefly discuss the characterization of macrophage heterogeneity in humans

4,182 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Apr 2013-Nature
TL;DR: This Review discusses how macrophage regulate normal physiology and development, and provides several examples of their pathophysiological roles in disease, and defines the ‘hallmarks’ of macrophages according to the states that they adopt during the performance of their various roles.
Abstract: Macrophages, the most plastic cells of the haematopoietic system, are found in all tissues and show great functional diversity. They have roles in development, homeostasis, tissue repair and immunity. Although tissue macrophages are anatomically distinct from one another, and have different transcriptional profiles and functional capabilities, they are all required for the maintenance of homeostasis. However, these reparative and homeostatic functions can be subverted by chronic insults, resulting in a causal association of macrophages with disease states. In this Review, we discuss how macrophages regulate normal physiology and development, and provide several examples of their pathophysiological roles in disease. We define the 'hallmarks' of macrophages according to the states that they adopt during the performance of their various roles, taking into account new insights into the diversity of their lineages, identities and regulation. It is essential to understand this diversity because macrophages have emerged as important therapeutic targets in many human diseases.

3,368 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Current studies indicate that even in the normal brain, microglia have highly motile processes by which they scan their territorial domains, and microglial cells are considered the most susceptible sensors of brain pathology.
Abstract: Microglial cells are the resident macrophages in the central nervous system. These cells of mesodermal/mesenchymal origin migrate into all regions of the central nervous system, disseminate through the brain parenchyma, and acquire a specific ramified morphological phenotype termed "resting microglia." Recent studies indicate that even in the normal brain, microglia have highly motile processes by which they scan their territorial domains. By a large number of signaling pathways they can communicate with macroglial cells and neurons and with cells of the immune system. Likewise, microglial cells express receptors classically described for brain-specific communication such as neurotransmitter receptors and those first discovered as immune cell-specific such as for cytokines. Microglial cells are considered the most susceptible sensors of brain pathology. Upon any detection of signs for brain lesions or nervous system dysfunction, microglial cells undergo a complex, multistage activation process that converts them into the "activated microglial cell." This cell form has the capacity to release a large number of substances that can act detrimental or beneficial for the surrounding cells. Activated microglial cells can migrate to the site of injury, proliferate, and phagocytose cells and cellular compartments.

2,998 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
22 Feb 2008-Cell
TL;DR: The factors that regulate proliferation and fate determination of adult neural stem cells are discussed and the potential significance of adult neurogenesis in memory, depression, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease is addressed.

2,911 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Jul 2015-Nature
TL;DR: In searching for T-cell gateways into and out of the meninges, functional lymphatic vessels lining the dural sinuses are discovered, which may call for a reassessment of basic assumptions in neuroimmunology and sheds new light on the aetiology of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases associated with immune system dysfunction.
Abstract: One of the characteristics of the central nervous system is the lack of a classical lymphatic drainage system. Although it is now accepted that the central nervous system undergoes constant immune surveillance that takes place within the meningeal compartment, the mechanisms governing the entrance and exit of immune cells from the central nervous system remain poorly understood. In searching for T-cell gateways into and out of the meninges, we discovered functional lymphatic vessels lining the dural sinuses. These structures express all of the molecular hallmarks of lymphatic endothelial cells, are able to carry both fluid and immune cells from the cerebrospinal fluid, and are connected to the deep cervical lymph nodes. The unique location of these vessels may have impeded their discovery to date, thereby contributing to the long-held concept of the absence of lymphatic vasculature in the central nervous system. The discovery of the central nervous system lymphatic system may call for a reassessment of basic assumptions in neuroimmunology and sheds new light on the aetiology of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases associated with immune system dysfunction.

2,897 citations