Production of thymic and splenic DC populations by mouse BM cells.

Total BM cells (3 × 10⁶) from C57BL/6 Ly 5.2 mice were IV injected into lethally irradiated Ly 5.1 recipient mice. At various times after BM cell transfer, DCs were enriched from the recipient thymus and spleen, then stained with fluorescent-conjugated antibodies to Ly 5.2 and to DC markers CD11c, CD4, CD8α, and DEC-205. The phenotype of BM-derived DCs was determined by examining the CD4, CD8, and DEC-205 expression on the gated donor type Ly 5.2⁺CD11c⁺ cells. Examples of the phenotypes of BM-derived DCs in the recipient thymus and spleen 4 weeks after BM transfer are shown.