The gastrointestinal tract contains one of the most abundant populations of macrophages in the body.1 These cells play a critical role in the maintenance of gut homeostasis and defend the integrity of epithelial crypts and the mucosal membrane.Chronic disruption of gut homeostasis can cause sustained inflammation mediated by intestinal macrophages.Since inflammation plays a key role in ulcerative colitis(UC)and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),2–4 an improved understanding of how inflammation is regulated in the gut is essential for the development of effective therapies for such diseases.
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