title: Activation of the annexin 1 counter-regulatory circuit affords protection in the mouse brain microcirculation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the homeostatic antiinflammatory axis centered on annexin 1 (AnxA1) in cerebral microvascular dysfunction and tissue injury associated with middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and reperfusion. Intravital fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the mouse cerebral microcirculation: AnxA1 null mice exhibited more white blood cell adhesion in cerebral venules than their wild-type counterparts, and this was accompanied by a larger cerebral infarct vol and worse neurological score. All parameters were rescued by delivery of human recombinant AnxA1. To further explore these findings using pharmacological tools, the effect of a short AnxA1 peptidomimetic was tested. When given during the reperfusion phase, peptide Ac2-26 produced similar cerebroprotection, which was associated with a marked attenuation of cell adhesion and markers of inflammation as measured in tissue homogenates. The pharmacological effects of peptide Ac2-26 occurred via receptors of the formyl-peptide receptor (FPR) family, most likely FPR-rs2, as deduced by displacement assays with transfected cells and in vivo experiments with transgenic mice and receptor antagonists. Our findings indicate that the endogenous antiinflammatory circuit centered on AnxA1 produces significant cerebral protection, and that these properties might have therapeutic potential for stroke treatment.
authors.affiliation: The William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London, Charterhouse Sq., London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors.forename: Felicity N E
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Gavins
authors.forename: Jesmond
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalli
authors.forename: Roderick J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Flower
authors.forename: D Neil
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perretti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017305:Annexin A1 / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000517:prevention & control; D007249:Inflammation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017305:Annexin A1; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins