Nature, Feb 2026·Monaghan KL, Zanluqui NG, et al.
Highly dynamic dural sinuses support meningeal immunity
Latest Nature publication from NIH NINDS collaborators — establishing dural sinuses as dynamic regulators of meningeal immunity.
NIH NINDS investigators used intravital microscopy and multi-modal cranial mapping to show that dural sinuses are highly dynamic venous structures — not passive blood drains — that restructure to regulate blood flow, fluid movement, and immune surveillance at the neuroimmune interface.
Key findings
- Dural sinuses undergo RAMP1-dependent constriction and dilation mediated by smooth muscle, resembling arterial behaviour.
- The superior sagittal sinus in mice is bifurcated into upper and lower chambers that contribute to intracranial pressure regulation.
- Specialized fenestrated sinus endothelial cells dynamically regulate intercellular boundaries (RAMP2-dependent) to safeguard fluid exchange and immune cell trafficking during homeostasis and viral infection.
Imaging Suite role: The Imaging Suite mapped cranial vasculature and integrated multi-modal 3D data, supporting analysis of dural sinus architecture and its role in fluid exchange, immune surveillance, and antiviral defence.