Fig. 3
M. tuberculosis antigens modulate TCR- and TCR/CD28-induced p38 phosphorylation in PPD+ve healthy individuals and pulmonary TB patients. (a) Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from six PPD + ve healthy donors and 12 pulmonary TB patients were stimulated with M. tuberculosis antigens for 4 h. Cells were then activated with anti CD3 and anti CD28 antibodies (as mentioned in methodology). Phosphorylated p38, total p-38 (p- p38 and tp38, respectively) and β- Actin expression were determined by western blot. One representative blot of each study case is shown where Lane 1- Control, Lane 2- anti CD3 stimulated, Lane 3- anti CD3 + anti CD28 stimulated, Lane 4- anti CD3 + anti CD28 stimulated in presence of Ag85A, Lane 5- anti CD3 + anti CD28 stimulated in presence of ESAT-6, Lane 6- anti CD3 + anti CD28 stimulated in presence of PPD and Lane 7-anti CD3 + anti CD28 stimulated in presence of H37Rv. (b) Densitometry was performed, and the ratios of phosphorylated to total protein expression were expressed as arbitrary units. *P < .05, ** P <0.005; *** P <0.005 by the Mann–Whitney U test