Lipocortins (annexins) 1, 2, 4 and 5 are increased in the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis

Western blotting and densitometry have been used to investigate the lipocortin content of post-mortem central nervous system (CNS) tissue samples from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and normal controls. Lipocortins 1, 2, 4 and 5 were all detected in normal control grey and white matter. In white matter samples from MS patients these lipocortins were found to be significantly increased, a further elevation in lipocortin content was observed in MS plaque tissue. The implications of these findings with respect to the role of these proteins in inflammatory CNS disease and a possible mechanism of steroid action in the therapy of MS are discussed.