Figure 6

IL-12-induced maturation of cytokine-differentiated NK cells. CD34^-lineage^- cells (panel A) and CD34⁺ cells (panel B) were differentiated with SCF+Flt3-L supplemented with either IL-15 or IL-15+IL-21 for 4 weeks, as already detailed. After further 48 hours of culture with 2 ng/ml IL-12, cells were harvested and used for flow cytometry experiments and for measurements of cytokine/chemokine release. A representative flow cytometry profile out of 4 with similar results is shown. Markers were set according to the proper isotypic control. The blue bars depict cytokine/chemokine release in cultures that were not treated with exogenous IL-12, whereas red bars indicate cytokine/chemokine production in cultures exposed to IL-12. *P < 0.01 compared with cultures established in the absence of IL-12.