β7 Integrin Inhibition Can Increase Intestinal Inflammation by Impairing Homing of CD25hiFoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells

Background & AimsIntegrin α4β7 mediates lymphocyte trafficking to the gut and gut-associated lymphoid tissues, a process critical for recruitment of effector lymphocytes from the circulation to the gut mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and murine models of intestinal inflammation. Antibody blockade of β7 integrins generally is efficacious in IBD; however, some patients fail to respond, and a few patients can experience exacerbations....