Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice may be favored by immune dysregulation leading to the hyporesponsiveness of regulatory T cells and activation of effector T-helper type 1 (Th1) cells. The immunoregulatory activity of natural killer T (NKT) cells is well documented, and both interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 secreted by NKT cells have important roles in mediating this activity. NKT cells are less frequent and display deficient IL-4 responses in both NOD mice and individuals at risk for T1D (ref. 8), and this deficiency may lead to T1D (refs. 1,6-9). Thus, given that NKT cells respond to the alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) glycolipid in a CD1d-restricted manner by secretion of Th2 cytokines, we reasoned that activation of NKT cells by alpha-GalCer might prevent the onset and/or recurrence of T1D. Here we show that alpha-GalCer treatment, even when initiated after the onset of insulitis, protects female NOD mice from T1D and prolongs the survival of pancreatic islets transplanted into newly diabetic NOD mice. In addition, when administered after the onset of insulitis, alpha-GalCer and IL-7 displayed synergistic effects, possibly via the ability of IL-7 to render NKT cells fully responsive to alpha-GalCer. Protection from T1D by alpha-GalCer was associated with the suppression of both T- and B-cell autoimmunity to islet beta cells and with a polarized Th2-like response in spleen and pancreas of these mice. These findings raise the possibility that alpha-GalCer treatment might be used therapeutically to prevent the onset and recurrence of human T1D.

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Converging data suggest an important role for IL-7 in T lymphocyte maturation as illustrated by the severe T lymphopenia observed in IL-7-deficient mice. We recently reported that IL-7 preferentially promotes the in vitro expansion of a discrete MHC class I-dependent lymphocyte subset comprising both CD4+ and CD4-CD8- TCR alpha beta + cells bearing several NK cells markers such NK1.1 and Ly-49. These T cells, designated as NK1+ T cells, have the unique property among thymocytes of producing large amounts of IL-4 upon primary stimulation via the TCR. We have further demonstrated that thymic NK1+ T cells of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a spontaneous model of autoimmune type I diabetes, are markedly deficient in maturation both quantitatively and functionally (IL-4 production). In the present experiments, the addition of exogenous IL-7 completely restored IL-4 production by anti-TCR alpha beta-stimulated mature (HSA-CD8-) thymocytes in NOD mice. A short 2 h preincubation with IL-7 was sufficient to restore both the expression of IL-4 mRNA and IL-4 production capacity. This was related to a direct effect on NK1+ thymocytes since: (i) the effect of IL-7 was restricted to the non-mainstream MEL-14- 3G11- TCR alpha beta + subset which mostly concentrates the IL-4-producing capacity and (ii) IL-7 did not restore IL-4 production in class I-deficient mice which lack the NK1+ T cell subset. Importantly, this activity of IL-7 on NK1+ T cells was also demonstrated in non-autoimmune strains of mice. These results were extended in vivo by showing that the IL-7 treatment significantly increased the anti-CD3 triggered IL-4 production by NK1+ T spleen cells. These findings confirm the role of IL-7 in NK1+ T cell maturation and suggest that the NK1+ T cell defect in NOD mice could be related to insufficient intrathymic IL-7 bioavailability.

In the present report, we characterize a novel T cell subset that shares with the NKT cell lineage both CD1d-restriction and high reactivity in vivo and in vitro to the α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) glycolipid. These cells preferentially use the canonical Vα14-Jα281 TCR-α-chain and Vβ8 TCR-β segments, and are stimulated by α-GalCer in a CD1d-dependent fashion. However, in contrast to classical NKT cells, they lack the NK1.1 marker and express high surface levels of CD1d molecules. In addition, this NK1.1− CD1dhigh T subset, further referred to as CD1dhigh NKT cells, can be distinguished by its unique functional features. Although NK1.1+ NKT cells require exogenous CD1d-presenting cells to make them responsive to α-GalCer, CD1dhigh NKT cells can engage their own surface CD1d in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. Furthermore, in response to α-GalCer, CD1dhigh NKT cells produce high amounts of IL-4 and moderate amounts of IFN-γ, a cytokine profile more consistent with a Th2-like phenotype rather than the Th0-like phenotype typical of NK1.1+ NKT cells. Our work reveals a far greater level of complexity within the NKT cell population than previously recognized and provides the first evidence for T cells that can be activated upon TCR ligation by CD1d-restricted recognition of their ligand in the absence of conventional APCs.