EFFECT OF ANNEXIN-1 ON EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (EAE) IN THE

Annexin-1, a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein, has been shown to act as an endogenous central neuroprotectant, notably against cerebral ischaemic damage. In the present study we extend these findi ngs to an animal model of multiple sclerosis, EAE, and report that end ogenous annexin-l is expressed in ED1(+) macrophages and resident astr ocytes localized within the lesions in the central nervous system (CNS ). Intracerebroventricular (icy) administration of an NH2-terminal fra gment spanning amino acids 1-188 of annexin-l after the onset of the c linical symptoms significantly reduced both the neurological severity as well as weight loss of mild EAE. Immunoneutralization of endogenous brain annexin-l failed to exacerbate the clinical features of EAE. Th us, although the role of endogenous annexin-l in the pathogenesis of E AE remains to be determined, our findings suggest that annexin-l may b e of therapeutic benefit to the treatment of multiple sclerosis.