Annexin 1: more than an anti-phospholipase protein

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is the first characterized member of the annexin family of proteins able to bind (i.e. to annex) to cellular membranes in a calcium-dependent manner. ANXA1 may be induced by glucocorticoids in inflammatory cells and shares with these drugs many anti-inflammatory effects. Originally described as a phospholipase A, (PLA(2))-inhibitory protein, ANXA1 can affect many components of the inflammatory reaction besides the metabolism of arachidonic acid. Recent data have shown that ANXA1 may specifically target cytosolic PLA(2) by both direct enzyme inhibition and suppression of cytokine-induced activation of the enzyme. ANXA1 inhibits the expression and/or activity of other inflammatory enzymes like inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in macrophages and inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in activated microglia. The inhibition of NOS expression may be caused by the stimulation of IL-10 release induced by ANXA1 in macrophages. Like glucocorticoids, ANXA1 exerts profound inhibitory effects on both neutrophil and monocyte migration in inflammation. Several mechanisms may contribute to the protein effect on cell migration, namely the activation of receptors like the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and the lipoxin A(4) receptor (ALXR), the shedding of L-selectin, the binding to alpha(4)beta(1) integrin and carboxylated N-glycans. Furthermore, again mimicking the action of glucocorticoids, ANXA1 promotes inflammatory cell apoptosis associated with transient rise in intracellular calcium and caspase-3 activation. Finally, ANXA1 has been recently identified as one of the 'eat-me' signals on apoptotic cells to be recognised and ingested by phagocytes. Thus, ANXA1 may contribute to the anti-inflammatory signalling that allows safe post-apoptotic clearance of dead cells.