This study was designed to investigate the role of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Balb/c mice were immunized with porcine cardiac myosin to establish the EAM model. All the immunized mice were divided into two groups, the α-GalCer group and the EAM group. α-GalCer or vehicle was given intraperitoneally at the time of immunization. Then α-GalCer or PBS was injected on alternate days for 6 weeks. Myocardial inflammation was evaluated by H & E staining and the expression levels of C/EBPβ and α-SMA were determined by immunohistochemistry. CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs and iNKT cells were analyzed and sorted by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was performed to detect MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. Following α-GalCer treatment for 6 weeks, myocardial inflammation improved significantly in the α-GalCer treated group compared to the EAM group. The proportions of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells and NK1.1(+) iNKT cells were statistically increased in the α-GalCer treated group compared to the EAM and normal control groups. In contrast to the EAM group, α-GalCer treatment significantly increased myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Expression of C/EBPβ increased significantly in the EAM group compared to the other two groups. In contrast, the expression of α-SMA did not differ significantly among the three groups. This study demonstrated that α-GalCer alleviates EAM. Thus, α-GalCer represents a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune-inflammation mediated cardiac damage. α-GalCer protects EAM through upregulation of the proportion of iNKT and Tregs and increased expression of myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9.
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