Modulation of inflammation and response to dexamethasone by Annexin 1 in antigen-induced arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Annexin 1 (Anx-1) is a putative mediator of the antiinflammatory actions of glucocorticoids (GCs). This study investigated the role of Anx-1 in experimental arthritis and in GC-mediated inhibition of inflammation, using antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in Anx-1 knockout (Anx-1(-/-)) mice. METHODS: Arthritis was induced by intraarticular injection of methylated BSA (mBSA) in mice preimmunized with mBSA. Disease was assessed after 7 days by histologic examination of the knee joints. Serum levels of anti-mBSA IgG were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A significant exacerbation of arthritis was observed in the Anx-1(-/-) mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. This was associated with increased mRNA expression of synovial interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Dexamethasone significantly reduced the histologic severity of synovitis and bone damage in the WT mice, but exerted no inhibitory effects in the Anx-1(-/-) mice, and also significantly reduced the serum levels of anti-mBSA IgG and the numbers of peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes in WT mice, but had no such effect in Anx-1(-/-) mice. CONCLUSION: Anx-1 exerts endogenous antiinflammatory effects on AIA via the regulation of cytokine gene expression, and also mediates the antiinflammatory actions of dexamethasone in AIA.