[21] In the present study, we investigated the role of NK/NKT cells in the ocular surface during the initiation and development of experimental dry eye. We showed that depletion of NK/NKT cells in mice subjected to desiccation prevented the increase of CD11c+ and CD11b+ cells in CLN and the upregulation of MHC class II, decreased generation of IL-17A-producing cells in the ocular surface and draining lymph nodes and decreased generation of pathogenic Th-17 cells. The gene discussed is ITGAX; the disease is Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.