Fig. 1

Colitis increases the percentage of classical monocytes and induces the upregulation of α4β7 integrin on circulating classical monocytes and neutrophils. The expression of α4β7 integrin on the surface of circulating peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils from control and colitic female mice was assessed by multicolor flow cytometry. A, B Proportions of neutrophils and monocytes, represented as a percentage of total leukocytes, were similar in blood of DSS colitis mice and controls (monocytes, t = 1.8, df 8, P = 0.11; neutrophils, t = 0.2.4; df 8, P = 0.047, n = 5 mice/group). C Higher percentages of total classical monocytes were detected in the peripheral blood of colitic mice compared to control group (t = 4.9, df 8, ***P < 0.001; n = 5 mice/group). D, E There was a significant upregulation of α4β7 expression on the surface of classical monocytes in colitic mice. D Percentage of α4β7 + classical monocytes (t = 3.4, df 8, **P = 0.01; n = 5 mice/group). E Cell surface α4β7 expression on classical monocytes expressed as mean fluorescent intensity t = 5.6, df 8, ***P < 0.001; n = 5 mice/group). F Circulating blood neutrophils of control mice expressed very low levels of α4β7 which increased significantly in colitic mice (t = 32.7, df 8, ***P < 0.001; n = 5 mice/group)