Fig 1.
Classification of cellular reactivity around the beads, granuloma index.
Representative image of cell reactivity index, in which A (No bead-bound cell), B (up to 5 bead-bound cells), C (5 or more bead-bound cells without cell migration or blast transformation), D (5 or more bead-bound cells, with cell migration and blast transformation), E (monolayer of cells covering the whole bead, cell migration and presence of blastic cells), and F (Multiple layers of bead-bound cells, cell migration and blast transformation). Representative image of an Treated TB patient at 10th day without (G) or with Infliximabe.
Fig 2.
Effects of TNF-α blockade on in vitro granuloma formation.
Granuloma index under different culture conditions–bead or BCG-bead—on days 5 and 10, in the presence or absence of infliximab. *significant difference between groups on the same day and in the same culture condition. Δ significant difference in the same group and same day of culture, after addition of Infliximab. Wilcoxon or Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by Dunn's post-test. Significant difference was p-value <0.05. The horizontal lines represent the medians, the bars represent the 25–75% percentiles and the vertical lines represent the 10–90% percentiles.
Fig 3.
Effect of TNF-α blockade on cytokines production in PPD+ group.
Levels of cytokines after granuloma formation, in vitro, PPD+ Control group (A-F) under different culture conditions—Medium or Antigen Medium and Bead or BCG-Bead, in the presence or absence of Infliximab. *Statistical differences between the conditions tested after the addition of Infliximab, in the different cytokines. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests, p-value <0.05. The horizontal lines represent the medians, the bars represent the 25–75% percentiles and the vertical lines represent the 10–90% percentiles.
Fig 4.
Effect of TNF-α blockade on cytokines production in treated Tb group.
Level of cytokines after granuloma formation, in vitro, Treated Tb group (A-F) under different culture conditions—Medium or Antigen Medium and Bead or BCG-Bead, in the presence or absence of Infliximab. *Statistical differences between the conditions tested after the addition of Infliximab, in the different cytokines. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests, p-value <0.05. The horizontal lines represent the medians, the bars represent the 25–75% percentiles and the vertical lines represent the 10–90% percentiles.
Fig 5.
Effect of TNF-α blockade on cytokines production in active Tb group.
Level of cytokines after granuloma formation, in vitro, Active Tb group (A-F) under different culture conditions—Medium or Antigen Medium and Bead or BCG-Bead, in the presence or absence of Infliximab. *Statistical differences between the conditions tested after the addition of Infliximab, in the different cytokines. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests, p-value <0.05. The horizontal lines represent the medians, the bars represent the 25–75% percentiles and the vertical lines represent the 10–90% percentiles.