Anti-α₄ integrin reagent, natalizumab, which is 1 of the most promising antiadhesion monoclonal antibodies, has been introduced into clinical trials against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Lethal consequences such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy have recently been reported in patients using natalizumab, making it critical to determine which selective adhesion molecule in the α₄ integrins-dependent pathway should be targeted for inhibition and the minimal spectrum of activity required for the valid treatment of IBD. Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM)-1 is known to be restrictedly expressed in gut-associated lymphoid tissues, and its expression dramatically increases in IBD. This study aimed to reevaluate the effectiveness of MAdCAM-1 inhibition and to determine the feasibility of anti-MAdCAM-1 strategy.

Antisense MAdCAM-1 oligonucleotides were injected into mice at 1.5 mg/kg/day for 7 consecutive days from the first day of a trinitrobenzene sulfonate enema.

MAdCAM-1 antisense oligonucleotides significantly suppressed the development of trinitrobenzene sulfonate colitis clinically and histopathologically compared with controls. Immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of the colon tissues revealed that MAdCAM-1 protein and mRNA expression were lower in antisense-treated mice than in controls. In addition, MAdCAM-1 antisense treatment reduced the number of α₄β₇⁺ lymphocytes in the inflamed colonic mucosa.

These data suggest that antisense suppression of MAdCAM-1 is of equivalent effectiveness to that of anti-MAdCAM-1 or anti-α₄ integrin antibody in previous reports and could be a new therapy for IBD.