Type I IFN is required for efficient recruitment and accumulation of LCs and CD8α⁺ DCs in skin-draining LNs. B6, IFN-αβR^−/−, and IL-12–blocked mice were immunized in the footpad with 5 μg of OVA-TLR7a conjugate labeled with the fluorescent dye, Alexa-Fluor 488. At the indicated time points after immunization, popliteal LN draining the foot were harvested, minced, and digested with collagenase/DNase. Cells were then stained for the various markers shown and identified using the gating strategy outlined in Figure 5A and supplemental Figure 3. The frequency of each DC subset (A) or the proportion of cells bearing the antigen in each DC subset (B) are shown. The data shown are representative of 2 independent experiments using 3 mice per group. Statistical analyses (*) were performed as described in “Statistical analyses.” The summary of P values, as indicated by (*), denote statistical significance of differences between the means of the WT or IL-12Rβ1^−/− mouse and the means of IFN-αβR^−/− mouse.