Addition of IL-6 resulted in maintenance of DC high phagocytic capacity.

CD34⁺ cells were cultured for 12 to 14 days with GM-CSF, TNF-α, SCF, and FLT3-L (G+T+S+F) with or without IL-6. Their capacity to uptake soluble antigens was then determined by the FITC–dextran assay as described in “Materials and methods.” Whereas mature DC lost their phagocytic ability, the addition of IL-6 led to the maintenance of this capacity. Results are from 1 representative experiment of 3 different samples analyzed.