The beneficial effects of AR-R17779 were accompanied by its ability to attenuate the changes caused by TNBS exposure on splenic T lymphocytes, while colitis-induced MLN changes were not antagonized: this observation prompted us to speculate that the protection by the α7 nAChR agonist might be mediated by its immune suppressant effects on splenic T lymphocytes and by its efficacy in preventing their expansion and proliferation. This evidence concerns the gene CHRNA7 and colitis.