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Nature Cell Biology 9, 1031–1034 (1 September 2007) | doi:10.1038/ncb0907-1031

Neural stem cells: guardians of the brain

Gianvito Martino & Stefano Pluchino

The central nervous system (CNS) has long been viewed as exempt from the effects of the immune system. The brain has physical barriers for protection, and it is now clear that cells in the nervous system respond to inflammation and injury in unique ways.