pDLCs are a rare DC population that are morphologically similar to pDCs.

<p>(A) PBMNCs were analyzed using flow cytometry. The gated Lin^-HLA−DR⁺ population (left) was divided according to CD56 expression (middle), and these two subpopulations were analyzed according to CD123 and CD11c expression to define pDLCs, mDLCs, pDCs, and mDCs (right). The results of one representative experiment are presented. (B) The frequency of pDLC, mDLCs, pDCs, and mDCs in PBMCs (n = 5). pDLCs comprised a very small (0.03%) proportion in PBMCs. (C) The pDLC to pDC ratio was compared between peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) cells (n=5). *P < 0.05 compared to PB. (D) MFI of CD123 (left panel) and CD11c (right panel) expression was measured on pDLCs, pDCs, and mDCs in PBMCs (n = 5). *P < 0.05 compared to pDLC. (E) Sorted cells were stained with May–Giemsa solution and observed by light microscopy at 1000× magnification.