Fig 2: MAdCAM-1 blockade reduces CCl4-induced infiltration of α4β7+ T cells in the liver: (A) Schematic of study design. Mice treated with CCl4 for six weeks received MAdCAM-1 mAb or IgG isotype antibody for four weeks starting at week three (n = 8 mice per group). (B–E) Representative flow plots show percent of α4β7+ CD4 and CD8 T cells, and bar graphs show percentage and total number of α4β7+ CD4 (percentage, p < 0.009; total number p < 0.002) and CD8 (percentage, p < 0.008; total number p < 0.002) T cells in the liver (n = 8 mice per group). (F–H) Percentage and total number of CD4 (percentage, p < 0.6; total number p < 0.001) and CD8 (percentage, p < 0.4; total number p < 0.2) T cells, and Foxp3+ CD4 T cells (percentage, p < 0.9; total number p < 0.01) in the liver (n = 8 mice per group). (I–K) Percentage and total number of neutrophils (percentage, p < 0.2; total number p < 0.2), monocytes (percentage, p < 0.1; total number p < 0.001) and macrophages (percentage, p < 0.01; total number p < 0.001) in the liver. (L–N) Expression of integrins α4, Itga4 (p < 0.004) and β7, Itga7 (p < 0.02) and Madcam-1 (p < 0.0001) in the liver (n = 5 mice per group). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) between IgG and MAdCAM-1 mAb treatments.

Fig 3: Integrin α4β7 blockade attenuates CCl4-induced hepatic inflammation: (A) Schematic of study design. Liver fibrosis was induced by oral administration of CCl4 for six weeks. Mice treated with CCl4 for six weeks received α4β7 mAb or IgG isotype antibody for four weeks starting at week three (n = 8 mice per group). Mice administered the vehicle, olive oil, served as controls (n = 5 mice per group). (B) Representative photomicrographs of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained liver tissue sections (n = 5–8 mice per group). Scale bar 100 µm. (C,D) Serum AST (p < 0.0001) and ALT (p < 0.0001) levels (n = 5–8 mice per group). (E,F) Expression of key molecules associated with hepatic inflammation, Tnfa (p < 0.03) and IL6 (p < 0.002), in the liver (n = 5 mice per group). (G) Representative confocal images of MAdCAM-1 (red) immunofluorescence in the liver. Nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar 200 µm. (H–K) Expression of Madcam-1 (p < 0.0003) and integrins α4, Itga4 (p < 0.0003), β7, Itgb7 (p < 0.005) and β1, Itgb1 (p < 0.04) in the liver (n = 5 mice per group). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) between oil and IgG isotype controls. Hashtags indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) between IgG and α4β7 mAb treatments.