A method and composition for inducing human dendritic cells to a condition of reduced capacity for antigen-specific activation of T cells, and, in mature dendritic cells, increased production of extracellular IL-10 is disclosed. A population of dendritic cells is exposed to a substantially uncharged antisense compound, including partially positively charged, containing 12-40 subunits and a base sequence effective to hybridize to a target region within the sequence identified by SEQ ID NO:9, to form a duplex structure between the compound and transcript having a Tm of at least 45° C. Formation of the duplex blocks expression of full-length CD86 in the cells, which in turn leads to reduced capacity for antigen-specific activation of T cells, and, in mature dendritic cells, increased production of extracellular IL-10.