Inhibition of junctional adhesion molecule-A/LFA interaction attenuates leukocyte trafficking and inflammation in brain ischemia/reperfusion injury

•We examine the effect of modulation of JAM-A function in treatment of MCAO in mice.•We designed small peptide inhibitor for targeting JAM-A.•JAM-A inhibition reduces total infarct volumes.•JAM-A inhibition reduced number of infiltrating leukocytes and inflammatory response.

Proinflammatory mediators trigger intensive postischemic inflammatory remodeling of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) including extensive brain endothelial cell surface and junctional complex changes. Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is a component of the brain endothelial junctional complex with dual roles: paracellular route occlusion and regulating leukocyte docking and migration. The current study examined the contribution of JAM-A to the regulation of leukocyte (neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages) infiltration and the postischemic inflammatory response in brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R injury). Brain I/R injury was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 30 min in mice followed by reperfusion for 0–5 days, during which time JAM-A antagonist peptide (JAM-Ap) was administered. The peptide, which inhibits JAM-A/leukocyte interaction by blocking the interaction of the C2 domain of JAM-A with LFA on neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, attenuated I/R-induced neutrophil and monocyte infiltration into brain parenchyma. Consequently, mice treated with JAM-A peptide during reperfusion had reduced expression (~ 3-fold) of inflammatory mediators in the ischemic penumbra, reduced infarct size (94 ± 39 vs 211 ± 38 mm3) and significantly improved neurological score. BBB hyperpermeability was also reduced. Collectively, these results indicate that JAM-A has a prominent role in regulating leukocyte infiltration after brain I/R injury and could be a new target in limiting post-ischemic inflammation.