Organ-derived dendritic cells are heterogeneous and phenotypically immature. (A) Subset composition of organ-derived dendritic cells (CD11c⁺) defined as lymphoid (CD8⁺), myeloid (CD11b⁺), or plasmacytoid (B220⁺) shows a large proportion of liver-derived dendritic cells being negative for all 3 subset markers and a high number of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in both lymph node groups (n = 14-15). (B) Organ-derived dendritic cells are phenotypically immature, express mostly MHC II (I-A/I-E), but only partly CD80, CD86, or CD40. Liver-derived dendritic cells have significantly fewer MHC II–positive and CD40⁺ cells (n = 6-8, *P < .05). Error bars represent SEM. (C) All organ-derived dendritic cells acquire a mature phenotype after overnight culture in the presence of LPS (100 ng/mL) with further up-regulation of MHC II and full induction of CD80, CD86, and CD40 (representative experiment).