When identifying molecular signatures for alternatively activated DC (AA-DC) it was found that the hallmark of AA-DC was the production of the angiogenic cytokine VEGF in vitro, and in vivo when the cells were implanted into the chicken embryo CAM assay. VEGF production by DC was selectively observed only when the DC where alternatively activated. Therefore, VEGF production by DC can be considered a signature of this state of activation.