Phenotypic and Functional Characteristics of BM-Derived DC from NOD and Non-Diabetes-Prone Strains

We compared BM-derived DC from NOD with DC from non-diabetes-prone strains. NOD myeloid progenitors cultured in GM or GM + IL-4 yielded lower numbers of DC than similar cultures from other strains. NOD GM + IL-4 DC produced lower amounts of IL-12 p70 following CD40 ligation or LPS stimulation in the presence of IFN-γ than DC from other strains, although similar levels of IL-6 and NO were produced by all strains. The low amounts of IL-12 p70 produced by GM + IL-4 DC are despite a more mature DC phenotype observed in NOD mice. The low DC number could diminish the ability of DC to stimulate immunoregulatory T cells. Furthermore, the differentiation/maturation of DC from myeloid progenitors is altered, reflecting disorders in the function of these cells in NOD BM.