Figure 1 : Phagocytosis and growth of H37Rv in cultures of BAL-macrophages.

Alveolar macrophages from the three groups of patients were infected with H37Rv at MOI 10 as described. Luminescence (ALU) was measured 1 h after pulse-chase (D0 value) as a measure of phagocytosis. After another 2 days of incubation, luminescence was measured again  and growth was evaluated (D2 value). (A) The figure shows the ALU values from individual patients in each group with the proportion of lysate (i.e., bacteria inside AMs)- and supernatant (extracellular bacteria)-associated bacteria 1 h after pulse-chase. (B) The figure shows the relative growth of H37Rv (D2/D0) in the cells of individual patients, with the proportion of relative growth in the supernatant (extracellular) and lysate (intracellular). (C) The mean ALU (intracellular + extracellular) value of each of the groups 1 h after pulse-chase (phagocytosis). (D) The mean relative growth (intracellular + extracellular) at 2 days post-infection from each group is shown. (E) The relative growth (intracellular + extracellular) of H37Rv (D2/D0) in the three study groups, in the absence or presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Non-TB (n=4), previous TB (n=4) and current TB (n=3). Bar graphs show the mean and SEM. The means were compared using ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post-hoc test. Differences in growth with or without 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulation within each group was tested by a paired Student’s t-test.