Activation of CD1d-restricted T cells protects NOD mice from developing diabetes by regulating dendritic cell subsets

CD1d-restricted invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are immunoregulatory cells whose loss exacerbates diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) female mice. Here, we show that the relative numbers of iNKT cells from the pancreatic islets of NOD mice decrease at the time of conversion from peri-insulitis to invasiv e insulitis and diabetes. Conversely, NOD male mice who have a low incidenc e of diabetes showed an increased frequency of iNKT cells. Moreover, admini stration of alpha -galactosylceramide, a potent activating ligand presented by CD1d, ameliorated the development of diabetes in NOD female mice and re sulted in the accumulation of iNKT cells and myeloid dendritic cells (DC) i n pancreatic lymph nodes (PLN), but not in inguinal lymph nodes. Strikingly , injection of NOD female mice with myeloid DC isolated from the PLN, but n ot those from the inguinal lymph nodes, completely prevented diabetes. Thus , the immunoregulatory role of iNKT cells is manifested by the recruitment of tolerogenic myeloid DC to the PLN and the inhibition of ongoing autoimmu ne inflammation.