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The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a critical guardian of communication between the periphery and the brain, is frequently compromised in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), resulting in the inappropriate passage of molecules and leukocytes into the brain. Here we show that the glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory messenger annexin A1 (ANXA1) is expressed in brain microvascular endothelial cells, where it regulates BBB integrity. In particular, ANXA1(-/-) mice exhibit significantly increased BBB permeability as a result of disrupted interendothelial cell tight junctions, essentially related to changes in the actin cytoskeleton, which stabilizes tight and adherens junctions. This situation is reminiscent of early MS pathology, a relationship confirmed by our detection of a selective loss of ANXA1 in the plasma and cerebrovascular endothelium of patients with MS. Importantly, this loss is swiftly restored by i.v. administration of human recombinant ANXA1. Analysis in vitro confirms that treatment of cerebrovascular endothelial cells with recombinant ANXA1 restores cell polarity, cytoskeleton integrity, and paracellular permeability through inhibition of the small G protein RhoA. We thus propose ANXA1 as a critical physiological regulator of BBB integrity and suggest it may have utility in the treatment of MS, correcting BBB function and hence ameliorating disease.

Original publication

DOI

10.1073/pnas.1209362110

Type

Journal article

Journal

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Publication Date

15/01/2013

Volume

110

Pages

832 - 841

Keywords

Actin Cytoskeleton, Adherens Junctions, Adult, Aged, Animals, Annexin A1, Blood-Brain Barrier, Capillary Permeability, Cell Line, Endothelial Cells, Female, Humans, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Microvessels, Middle Aged, Models, Neurological, Multiple Sclerosis, Recombinant Proteins, Tight Junction Proteins, rhoA GTP-Binding Protein