A. Del Maschio et al., Leukocyte recruitment in the cerebrospinal fluid of mice with experimentalmeningitis is inhibited by an antibody to junctional adhesion molecule (JAM), J EXP MED, 190(9), 1999, pp. 1351-1356
The mechanisms that govern leukocyte transmigration through the endothelium
are not yet fully defined. Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) is a newly c
loned member of the immunoglobulin superfamily which is selectively concent
rated at tight junctions of endothelial and epithelial cells. A blocking mo
noclonal antibody (BV11 mAb) directed to JAM was able to inhibit monocyte t
ransmigration through endothelial cells in in vitro and in vivo chemotaxis
assays. In this study, we report that BV11 administration was able to atten
uate cytokine-induced meningitis in mice. The intravenous injection of BV11
mAb significantly inhibited leukocyte accumulation in the cerebrospinal fl
uid and infiltration in the brain parenchyma. Blood-brain barrier permeabil
ity was also reduced by the mAb. We conclude that JAM may be a new target i
n limiting the inflammatory response that accompanies meningitis.