Background and objectives
Defective NKT cell function has been linked with autoimmunity. Both the number of NKT cells and their functional capacity of releasing interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-4 after TCR ligation are for instance impaired in NOD mice developing diabetes, in mice developing a model of multiple sclerosis and also in humans with autoimmune diseases. To investigate the NKT cell role in rheumatoid arthritis, we studied their quantitative and qualitative profile in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) DBA/1 susceptible mice, and we tested whether NKT stimulation with their synthetic ligand alpha-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) was therapeutic in CIA.