Fig. 1.

Administration of C20:2 elicits a T helper type 2 (Th2)-biased response. (a) Splenocytes from naive non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice (4–6 weeks old) were stimulated in vitro with α-galactosyl-ceramide C26:0 (α-GalCer), C20:2 or vehicle (100 ng/ml) for 72 h. Culture supernatants were analysed for interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (b) NOD mice (4–6 weeks old) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with a single dose (4 µg) of glycolipid or vehicle. Serum was collected at 2 h, 8 h or 24 h after injection and ELISAs were performed to measure serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4. Data are representative of at least three independent experiments yielding similar results and are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (s.d); five mice/treatment group/time-point. *Statistically significant (P < 0·05) difference between compared groups.