Hydrocortisone Enhances the Function of the Blood-Nerve Barrier Through the Up-Regulation of Claudin-5

In autoimmune disorders of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), including Guillain-Barr, syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, breakdown of the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) has been considered to be a key step in the disease process. Although glucocorticoids (GCs) have been shown to effectively restore the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in some inflammatory central nervous system diseases such as multiple sclerosis, their action against the BNB has not yet been examined. To elucidate the role of GCs on the BNB, we established a novel human immortalized endothelial cell lines derived from the BNB. The established cell line termed DH-BNBs expresses two important tight junction proteins, claudin-5 and occludin. Using DH-BNBs, we analyzed how GCs affect BNB function. We herein report that GCs up-regulate the expression of claudin-5 and increase the barrier properties of the BNB. This is the first report which indicates how GCs affect the blood-nerve barrier.