FIGURE 2. BLyS promotes DC maturation.

A and B. DCs (1×10⁶/ml) were cultured with or without 200 ng/ml BLyS or 20 ng/ml LPS for 24 h, before analysis of expression of the indicated surface molecules on viable cells using flow cytometry. The experiments shown in A and B are representative of 9 and 4 independent experiments, respectively. ΔMFI (delta mean fluorescence intensity), is calculated from the MFI of the cells expressing the marker of interest divided by the MFI of the cells stained with the isotype control, and these numbers are shown in each histogram. C. The fold induction of ΔMFI for CD80, CD86, and CD83 in BLyS or LPS stimulated-DCs as compared with unstimulated DCs is displayed from nine independent experiments. When compared with Nil, *p=0.0002, **p=0.0063, and ***p=0.0022. D. BLyS was titrated over the indicated range of concentrations, and cell surface expression of CD80, as determined by flow cytometry, was determined following a 24 hour stimulation period. The data shown reflect the median CD80 fluorescence intensity observed in a single experiment and are representative of three independent experiments.