CD31^hiLy-6C^neg cells give rise to DCs following culture in GM-CSF.

OVA-DC– or PBS-DC–immunized mice were challenged daily for 3 days with OVA or PBS aerosols. At 24 hours after the last challenge, BM was collected and stained with CD31 and Ly-6C antibodies. Plots shown are representative of mice within the OVA-DC/OVA group. The CD31^hiLy-6C^neg and the CD31^negLy-6C^med populations were purified using flow cytometric sorting (middle panels) and subsequently cultured in the presence of GM-CSF for 7 days. The lower panels represent FACS plots of cells at the end of the culture period stained for MHCII and CD11c. Immature DCs are CD11c⁺ MHCII⁻ and mature DCs are CD11c⁺ MHC II⁺.