Role of natural killer T cells in the pathophysiology and treatment of experimental arthritis

Stimulation of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells has a positive influence in several autoimmune diseases (which are mainly characterised by th1 activation). Depending on the stimulation by different synthetic analogs of xGalCer (a known iNKT activator) the Th respons can be polarised to a Th1 versus Th2 respons. By this method we want to develop new therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases.