Targeting the Integrin α4β7 with Probiotics and Nutraceuticals: A Working Hypothesis

Abstract

α4β7 integrin is critical in lymphocytes homing to the gut, a clinical relevant marker and a therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Deregulated β7-mediated T lymphocytes homing was observed also in the extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD and in subjects with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Nutritional interventions and/ or functional foods (containing prebiotics, probiotics and/or nutraceuticals), rather than drug treatments, should be recommended in IBS. Despite dysbiosis is a common feature of both IBD and IBS, the modulation of gut microbiota and gut functional symptoms by dietary regimes, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, as well as by herbal medicinal products and foods containing bioactive phytochemicals, requires future well-designed clinical trials to establish their safety and efficacy. Results from in vitro and animal models suggest a role of α4β7 integrin also in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR) and atherosclerosis, as well as the potential modulation of gut homing by dietary phytochemicals and probiotics. Despite there was no significant difference in cholesterol levels between HFD fed ApoE-/- and β7-/-ApoE-/- mice, the latter had a reduced size of atherosclerotic lesions. Overall human and experimental data suggest that α4β7 integrin could be a target of functional foods and a useful marker in human studies, being sensitive to the complex interaction between genetic factors, microbiota and dietary habit.