Obesity Modulates Intestinal Intraepithelial T Cell Persistence, CD103 and CCR9 Expression, and Outcome in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis.

Obesity impacts over 30% of the United States population, resulting in a wide array of complications. Included among these is the deterioration of the intestinal barrier, which has been implicated in type 2 diabetes and susceptibility to bacterial transepithelial migration. The intestinal epithelium is maintained by αβ and γδ intraepithelial T lymphocytes, which migrate along the epithelia, support epithelial homeostasis, and protect from infection.