Adult CD11c-p14_delmice lack epidermal LCs in the skin and draining LNs. (A) LC-specific expression of Cre in the epidermis. Epidermal cells derived from CD11c-Cre/p14^wt/fl (control) mice, crossed to Rosa26-tdTomato reporter mice, were analyzed for the expression of the reporter molecule tdTomato in LCs (MHC II⁺) and keratinocytes (MHC II^neg). One representative mouse of 3 is depicted. (B) p14 protein expression in splenic DCs obtained from CD11c-p14_del and heterozygous control mice. One representative of 2 experiments is shown (n = 2 mice per group). (C-D) Analysis of migratory DCs in the skin-draining LNs. Cells were pre-gated for viable CD11c⁺ cells. One representative mouse of 4 is shown in panel C; combined data from at least 4 individually analyzed mice per genotype are given in panel D. (E-F) Epidermal cells from adult CD11c-p14_del and control mice were analyzed for the presence of LCs (CD11c⁺MHC II⁺) and DETCs (here identified by their CD103 expression). One representative of 4 mice in panel E; combined data from 4 individually analyzed mice per genotype in panel F. (G) Immunofluorescence staining of epidermal sheets (2 top panels) and cryostat sections of whole ear skin (two bottom panels) prepared from CD11c-p14_del and control mice. LCs were stained for MHC II (arrows, basal lamina: dotted line). CD11c-p14_del mice completely lack the LC network, except for very few residual LCs (*Patch of LCs). Scale bar for epidermal sheets: 100 µm; for sections: 50 µm. *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.