Figure 3

In current smokers, the frequency of lung Mø expressing TLR3 protein is reduced relative to lung Mø of former-smokers. To isolate total lung Mø, areas of human lung parenchyma, resected for clinical indications and remote from any evidence of nodules or infection, were processed by mechanical disaggregation without the use of enzymes. Lung Mø were permeabilized, stained for TLR3 expression and analyzed by flow cytometry. A, B. Representative histograms of intracellular TLR3 expression; A, former smoker; B, current smoker. C. Percentage of lung Mo expressing TLR3 relative to smoking status; x’s represent former smokers (n = 17); circles represent current smokers (n = 8). D. Percentage of TLR3-positive by lung Mø relative to COPD status; as in panel C, x’s represent former smokers (n = 17); circles represent current smokers (n = 8); *, p < 0.05; NS, non-significant. The Mann–Whitney test was used to calculate p values.