Figure 3.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression levels in human alveolar macrophages (AMs). Bars represent mRNA levels, determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, of CFTR in primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells and primary cultures of human AMs. Data are expressed as fold change relative to 18S mRNA and represent mean ± SD from three independent experiments. Unpaired t test was used for the statistical analysis. *P < 0.05, HBE versus AMs. NS = not significant, CFTR levels in AMs versus the hypothetical value 0, based on one-sample t test.