FIGURE 4.

Phagocytosis of pHrodo non‐typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in CD206^+/− CD14^high/low sputum cells. Sputum cells from 14 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, 8 healthy smokers (HS) and 9 healthy never‐smokers (HNS) were left unexposed or exposed to pHrodo NTHi for 30 min or 3 h. The percentage of phagocytosing cells was then determined by flow cytometry. CD66b⁻ cells were gated and CD206⁺CD14^low, CD206⁺CD14^high, CD206⁻CD14^high and CD206⁻CD14^low populations were further analysed to reveal the percentage (a,b) of phagocytosing cells in each population. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Statistical significance is shown above corresponding bars [analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed Tukey’s multiple comparison test]. Significantly below HNS (*p < 0.05)