Figure 5.

Mutants for ppe31^Mtb decreases the inflammatory cytokine expressions and reduces host cell death. RAW264.7 cells were infected with H37Rv or Δppe31^Mtb (MOIs=10) for 24 h. The supernatants were collected, sterile-filtered, and assayed for TNF (A) and IL-6 (B). (C) RAW264.7 were infected with H37Rv or Δppe31^Mtb (MOI = 10) for 24h, and then subjected to Western blot analysis using antibodies raised to cleaved PARP and β-actin. (D) RAW264.7 were infected with H37Rv or Δppe31^Mtb (MOI = 10) for 24h, and cell death was detected by TUNEL staining and then examined by confocal microscope. Data are shown as mean ± S.E.M. of three independent experiments. *p<0.05, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.00001. UI, uninfected; M, marker.