Figure 2.

Circulating monocytes and hematopoietic (CD34⁺) stem cells are practicable sources of DCs for clinical applications. Following incubation with growth factors to induce cell differentiation and to increase immunogenicity, DCs are incubated with the antigen (peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, viral particles, or tumor lysates). Antigen-loaded DCs can then be reinjected into the patient or used for ex vivo expansion of antitumor lymphocytes which will then be infused.