Pathway of cell differentiation and proliferative capacity of BM DCs.

(A) CD11c⁺CD86⁻ BM DCs are the immediate precursors of CD11c⁺CD86⁺ DCs, whereas double-negative cells are the progenitors of CD11c⁺CD86⁻ DCs. BM cells cultured in GM-CSF + IL-4 (day 7) were labeled with PE anti-CD11c and FITC anti-CD86, FACS-sorted into CD11c⁺CD86⁻ DCs (upper row) and into double-negative cells (lower row), and recultured in GM-CSF + IL-4 for 24 hours. Numbers outside quadrants indicate percentages of cells. (B) Proliferative capacity of CD11c⁻ CD86⁻, CD11c⁺CD86⁻, and CD11c⁺CD86⁺ BM-derived cells. BM cells cultured with GM-CSF + IL-4 (day 7) were labeled, FACS-sorted, and grown with medium, GM-CSF (GM), GM-CSF + IL-4 (GM + IL-4), or IL-4 (3 × 10⁴ cells/well). Proliferation was assessed by³H-TdR incorporation after 3 days of culture. Results are representative of 3 experiments.