Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory and recurring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Monocytes and macrophages are major components of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), and the balance between inflammatory monocytes and small peritoneal macrophages plays important roles in UC. However, the mechanisms governing the balance between inflammatory monocytes and small peritoneal macrophages in UC need to be clarified further. Here, we found that the expression levels of CD226 on different subsets of monocytes/macrophages are varied in UC mice. The expression levels of CD226 on patrolling monocytes (pMos) and small peritoneal macrophages (SPMs) were markedly increased, while the expression levels of CD226 on inflammatory monocytes (iMos) were decreased in UC mice. Significantly, the percentage of iMos was enhanced while the percentage of SPMs were decreased in CD226 knockout UC mice compared with that in wildtype UC mice. Moreover, CD226 deficiency suppressed the migration capacity of macrophages. Therefore, our data suggest that CD226 plays critical roles in regulating the function and balance of monocytes/macrophages in mouse UC and targeting CD226 in MPS may be developed as a potent therapy for UC.
Keywords: CD226; macrophage; monocyte; ulcerative colitis.