An increased frequency of activated CD11c⁺CD8α⁺ DCs is detected in STZ-treated MerTK-deficient recipient mice. (A and B) 5 × 10⁶ BDC CD4⁺ T cells were transferred, and after 72 h, CD11c⁺CD11b⁺ and CD11c⁺CD8α⁺ DCs were isolated from the pancreas and stained for CD11b, CD8α, CD80 and CD86 (A), or PLN CD11c⁺CD8α⁺ DCs stained for intracellular IL-12 p40/p70, and the total number of IL-12 expressing CD11c⁺CD8α⁺ DCs determined per PLN (B). *, P = 0.026 (Student's t test). Error bars represent the mean ± the SEM.