Sustained in vivo depletion of splenic langerin(+) CD8α(+) dendritic cells is well-tolerated by lang-DTREGFP mice.

Splenic langerin(+) CD8α(+) dendritic cells (DCs) have exhibited a critical role in cross-priming CD8(+) T cell responses. To further study the roles of this DC subset, a protocol for the continuous depletion of langerin(+) CD8α(+) DCs was established using the pre-existing lang-DTREGFP mouse model. Due to the fast turnover rate of splenic CD8α(+) DCs, maintaining the depletion of langerin(+) CD8α(+) DCs required multiple diphtheria toxin (DT) treatments. We found that prolonged treatment with DT did not cause weight loss, or neutrophilia, as reported in some DT-based depletion models. Therefore, the in vivo depletion of murine langerin(+) CD8α(+) DCs can be maintained over time to analyse their function during the full course of an immune response.