After a transient increase in IL-12p40 in both DT-treated and non-depleted mice 6 h after infection, no significant increase in IL-12p40 above basal levels was measured until 3 weeks after infection, at which point the serum concentration was significantly higher in BCG-infected, non-depleted mice compared to uninfected controls; the depletion of langerin+ CD8α+ DCs resulted in reduced IL-12p40 production at this time point. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is infection.