FIG. 8.

M. tuberculosis lipoprotein LprG induces NF-κB phosphorylation in the absence of TCR signaling. CD4⁺ T cells (10⁶ cells/well) were left unstimulated (Resting [A]) or stimulated overnight with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 (Prestimulated [B]). (A) Resting cells were either left untreated, stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 beads, or treated with Pam₃CSK₄ or rLprG for 15 min. (B) Prestimulated cells were either left untreated or treated with Pam₃CSK₄ or recombinant LprG for 15 min. The levels of total (NF-κB p65) and phosphorylated (pNF-κB p65) NF-κB p65 were determined by Western blotting (top and middle panels). Western blots were analyzed with ImageJ software (NIH), and the band density of pNF-κB p65/pNF-κB expressed as a relative optical value (bottom panel). Shown are the results from one representative experiment of five performed.