Natural killer T cells promote collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice.

The role of NKT cells in the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) remains unclear since most studies have used C57BL/6 (B6) mice, which are less susceptible to CIA than mice with a DBA/1 background. To clarify the immunological functions of NKT cells in CIA, it is necessary to analyze in detail the effects of NKT cell deficiency on CIA development in DBA/1 mice. The incidence and severity of CIA were significantly exacerbated in DBA/1CD1d(+/-) mice as compared to DBA/1CD1d(-/-) mice. In DBA/1CD1d(+/-) mice, antigen-specific responses of B and T cells against CII were remarkably increased and inflammatory cytokine levels were also increased in vivo and in vitro. The number of IL-17-producing NKT cells significantly increased in DBA/1CD1d(+/-) mice as the disease progressed. Our results clearly show that NKT cells are involved not only in accelerating the severity and incidence of CIA but also in perpetuating the disease progression.