The first part of this question relating to pDCs arises from the fact that pancreatic inflammation is initiated by a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand (poly[I:C]), yet the disease-sustaining pDCs express only low levels of TLR3 (8); thus, the cell initiating murine AIP is not yet defined. This evidence concerns the gene TLR3 and autoimmune pancreatitis.