Abstract
A continual dialogue exists between the central nervous system (CNS) and immune system that contributes to neural homeostasis as well as protection from microbes, repair following damage, autoimmune disease, and neurodegeneration. Characterization of resident and peripherally derived leukocyte populations within the central nervous system can provide valuable information regarding how these cells contribute to steady-state and inflammatory conditions. Flow cytometry provides a method to conduct detailed multi-parameter analyses of immune cells isolated from various tissues. This protocol provides a method to isolate leukocytes from brain, spinal cord, and meninges for flow cytometric analysis and provides a basic framework for phenotyping these cells. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.