Figure 7. CD8⁺ DCs from NOD mice are not matured by binding αDEC-BDC but do have higher expression of CD40 than DCs from C57BL/6 mice.

(A) NOD mice were treated with PBS, αDEC-BDC, or LPS + poly(I:C) + αCD40 for 12 h. Spleen DCs were recovered, and expression of maturation markers was assessed by flow cytometry for geometric MFI values, as expressed on CD11c⁺CD8⁺ DCs. Data are representative of three independent experiments. (B) After in vivo treatment with PBS or αDEC-BDC, splenocytes were cultured for 4 h in the presence or absence of LPS + poly(I:C) and then stained for intracellular cytokines in CD11c⁺CD8⁺ DCs. Average of three independent experiments + sem. (C) Expression of the costimulatory molecule CD40 on CD11c⁺CD8⁺ spleen DCs from NOD (solid line) and C57BL/6 (dashed line) mice or with isotype control (gray shaded). Each point in graph to the right represents data from a single mouse and shows the geometric MFI of CD40 or FMO control on CD11c⁺CD8⁺ DCs. Data are representative of four independent experiments. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.0005.