GM3-αGC liposome-activated NKT cells provide maturation signals to DCs and subsequently induce IL-12 production. GM3+adj, GM3 liposome co-injected i.v. with αCD40/poly I:C. (A) The activation of spleen NKT cells analyzed at 16 h p.i. with liposomes, illustrated by the frequency of IFNγ and IL-4 producing CD1d PBS57+ NKT cells and CD40L expression, determined by flow cytometry. (B,C) The expression of CD40, CD86, CD80 and CD70 by cDC1 (B) and cDC2 (C) illustrated by gMFI determined by flow cytometry. (D) IL-12 levels measured in the serum at 16 h p.i. with liposomes. The data are mean ± SEM from one experiment with 3–5 mice per group. Each symbol represents one mouse (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001).