NFAT5 contributes to the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and decrease of T regulatory cells in female mice

•NFAT5 haplodeficiency ameliorates EAE in female mice, but not in male mice.•NFAT5 haploinsufficiency increases Treg cell frequency in EAE only in the female CNS and spleen.•NFAT5 haplodeficiency reduces CD11c+ dendritic cell frequency in the spleens of both male and female EAE mice, but not in the CNS of either sex.•NFAT5 haplodeficiency reduces CD11c+CD8α+ dendritic cells in the female CNS, but rescue of CD11c+CD8α+ cells in the female CNS with Flt3L at peak EAE has no significant effect on EAE clinical course.