Figure 2
Expression of TNF family ligands and receptors in pathogen-free and
M. pulmonis–infected mouse airways.
(A) qRT-PCR. Fold increase in mRNA compared with pathogen free. *P < 0.05 versus pathogen-free. Data are represented as means ± SEM. (B–D) Confocal images of TNF-α and Iba1 immunoreactivity in cross-sections of (B and D) pathogen-free and (C and E) infected tracheas. (B) Strongest TNF-α staining is mainly in epithelium (arrows) in pathogen-free mouse. (C) Strong TNF-α staining is more widely distributed after infection. Some leukocytes (short arrows) are strongly stained. (D and E) Iba1, a marker of macrophages and dendritic cells, is sparse in pathogen-free trachea (D) but widely scattered in leukocytes after infection (E). Scale bar: 50 μm.
