Abstract: A method of characterizing cells in a subclass of dendritic cells or precursors thereof in a biological sample. The method comprising placing the sample in contact with immunointeractive molecules directed to at least one dendritic cell immunogen (e.g. HLA-DR, CE123, CD11c, CD1b/c, BDCA2, BDCA3, BDCA4, Cb16, CD83, CD45, CD40, CMRF-44 AND CMRF-56) and CMRF-56) and at least one non-dendritic cell immunogen (e.g. CD3, CD19, CD14, CD56, CD11b, CD34) and detecting the presence of one or more dendritic cell immunogen-immunointeractive molecule complexes and the absence of one or more non-dendritic cell immunogen-immunointeractive molecule complexes. An analysis of the cells of the subclass of dendritic cells is performed based on the presence and absence of the above complexes. This method may be used in disease diagnosis by comparing the number of cells in the subset of dendritic cells or precursors thereof with the number of the same subset of cells found in an age-matched non-diseased patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing development of dendritic cells from CD34+ precursor cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of differentiating CD34+ precursor cells into myeloid- and or lymphoid-dendritic cells. The present invention provides a protocol for the development of dendritic cells from a biological sample inter alia cord blood, bone marrow or peripheral blood CD34+ stem cells. The dendritic cells of the present invention are useful as therapeutic cellular agents such as in the development of vaccines and in modulating immunological responsiveness. More particularly, the present invention provides compositions which can be used for inducing a protective immune response in a subject against inter alia pathogenic infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to immuno-interactive agents which are capable of interacting with an epitope on a molecule in or on dendritic cells (DC). More particularly, the present invention provides immunological reagents such as but not limited to immunoglobulin agents which are capable of interacting with an epitope on a molecule present on or within a subset of DC. Generally, the DC are a subset of DC which have been subjected to differentiation stimulus. The resulting differentiated, activated subset of DC produce a molecule comprising an immunologically detectable epitope which is not detectable in non-differentiated DC. The present invention further relates to cell lines which produce the instant immuno-interactive molecules and to a method for identifying and purifying the above-mentioned subset of DC from a biological sample such as blood using the instant immuno-interactive molecules.