In order to compare the effects of GM-CSF + IL-4 with the effects of IL-3 + IL-4 on the differentiation and development of dendritic cells (DCs) from mouse bone marrow, we cultured bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cell in vitro and examined whether DCs induced by IL-3 + IL-4 (IL-3 DCs) differed from the DCs induced by GM-CSF + IL-4 (GM-CSF DCs) in morphology, yields, phenotype and endocytic activity. Scanning electron microscope, laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and flow cytometer (FCM) were used. The results showed that the DCs induced by IL-3 + IL-4 and the DCs induced by GM-CSF + IL-4 had similar morphology, and the DCs induced by IL-3 + IL-4 expressed high level of major histocompability complex (MHC) class II. Besides, IL-3 DCs had the characteristics of higher yields and better consistency. But CD80 and CD86 were expressed at low levels or absent on IL-3-treated DCs. The capability of uptaking antigen of IL-3 DCs was more powerful than that of GM-CSF DCs. IL-3 could substitute for GM-CSF in culturing DCs from mouse bone marrow cells and could obtain the tolerance DCs that lack costimulatory molecules.