FIG 5.

Cell death of the alveolar macrophages after Mp challenge. The mice were challenged intranasally with Mp (6 × 10⁷ CFU). As a control, the mice were treated with PBS intranasally. (a) At 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 9 h after the Mp challenge, the numbers of CD45⁺ immune cells, neutrophils (CD45⁺ Ly6G⁺ CD11b⁺ Siglec-F^–), and alveolar macrophages (CD45⁺ Ly6G^– CD11c⁺ Siglec-F⁺) in the BALF were measured by flow cytometry. (b) At 3 h after the Mp challenge, the viability of the alveolar macrophages in the BALF was analyzed by using flow cytometry. The death of the alveolar macrophages was defined as 7AAD⁺ CD45⁺ Ly6G- CD11c⁺ Siglec-F⁺. The left panel showed representative flow cytometry plots of 7AAD⁺ alveolar macrophages. The right panel showed the percentage of 7AAD⁺ alveolar macrophages. (a, b) Each experiment was performed more than twice. Data are shown as means ± SD. (a) n = 6; (b) n = 5. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01 as indicated by the (a) Dunnett's test and (b) Student's t test.