Reconstitution of splenic CD8α⁺ and CD8α⁻DCs from CD4^low lymphoid precursors.

Thymic CD4^low precursors (3 × 10⁴) from C57 BL/Ka Ly 5.2 donor mice were injected intravenously into γ-irradiated (7 Gy) C57 BL/6 Ly 5.1 Pep^3b recipient mice, along with 4 × 10⁴ Ly 5.1 BM cells to ensure survival of recipients. At the indicated times, mice were analyzed for donor-derived DCs, identified as Ly 5.2⁺ CD11c⁺cells, in splenic DC-enriched 1.061-density fractions. The percentage of Ly5.2⁻ and Ly5.2⁺ CD11c⁺ DCs (contour plots), as well as the percentage of CD8α⁻ and CD8α⁺ DCs among Ly5.2⁺ DCs (black histograms) are indicated. Grey profiles show the expression of CD4 and F4/80 by CD8α⁻ DCs. White profiles represent control stainings. These results are representative of four independent experiments with similar results.