Dendritic cells (DC) play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses. We previously reported aberrant high production of B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC/CXCL13) by DC in aged BWF1 mice, amurine model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We describe here that CD11b⁺CD11c⁺ cells were markedly increased in the peripheral blood (PBL‐DC) in aged BWF1, but not in similarly aged NZB or NZW mice. Part of PBL‐DC showed a typical dendritic morphology and expressed MHC class II molecules, and had a weak, but significant antigen‐presenting ability in mixed lymphocytereaction. PBL‐DC were chemoattracted to several chemokines in vitro including secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC), liver and activation‐regulated chemokine (LARC), RANTES, macrophageinflammatory protein‐1α, whereas splenic mature DC from aged BWF1 mice were preferentially chemoattracted towards SLC. BLC production was induced when PBL‐DC were cultured in the presence of TNF‐α for 3 days. BLC expression was also induced in bone marrow‐derived DC when they were differentiated into mature DC in the presence of TNF‐α and IL‐1β, while both IFN‐α and IFN‐γ failed to induce BLC expression in bone marrow‐derived DC. Since TNF‐α expression is increased in aged BWF1 mice, DC recruitment in the circulation and maturation into BLC‐producing DC by TNF‐α may play a pivotal role in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases.