Expression of B7 costimulator molecules on mouse dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells express most known accessory molecules [ICAM's, LFA's, B7's, and CD40] for binding and stimulating T cells. B7 is the most abundant of these, and B7-2 very much predominates relative to B7-1. B7 expression is regulated, not by LPS, but by some signal [s] that parallels maturation. B7 contributes to the T cell stimulatory function of dendritic cells, as do the other accessory molecules. B7-2 is expressed on dendritic cells and macrophages at several sites in situ, especially dendritic cells in the T cell areas.