Surface phenotypes and cytokine productions in RANKL-stimulated DCs from MRL/lpr mice. (A) BMDCs were generated from MRL/lpr and MRL^+/+ mice by using the culture of bone marrow cells with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 7 days; the cell-surface markers of BMDCs were then analyzed. BMDCs from MRL/lpr and MRL^+/+ mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. Shown are representative plots of CD8α⁺, CD11b⁺, B220⁺, and CD11c⁺ cells. Percentages in each region indicate the frequency of lymphoid, myeloid, and plasmacytoid DCs. Results are representative of 3 independent experiments. (B) The graph shows the mean frequency of lymphoid, myeloid, and plasmacytoid DCs. Data are means ± SD of 5 to 7 mice in each group. (C) BMDCs were stimulated with 100 ng/mL mouse recombinant RANKL or 100 ng/mL LPS for 48 hours, and then the surface expressions of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules were detected by flow cytometric analysis. The result is representative of 3 independent experiments. (D) The secretions of IFN-r, IL-12p40, and IL-10 in culture supernatants from the BMDCs stimulated by RANKL were detected by ELISA. Data are means ± SD of triplicate samples and are representative of 4 independent experiments. *P > .05; **P > .01, MRL/lpr versus control mice.