Fig. 5

Bacterial clearance and acquired airway inflammation measured in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BAL) of mice either vitamin D sufficient or deficient, repeatedly infected with NTHi and exposed either to CS or room air for 14 weeks (series 2). A Colony forming units (CFU) of NTHi in BAL. Absolute number of B neutrophils and C lymphocytes in BAL. Semi-quantitative scoring of D lymphoid aggregates and E diffuse lymphoid inflammation in the lungs. F Representative H&E sagittal lung slides in each group showing an example of lymphoid inflammation indicated by arrows. ^$$p < 0.01, ^$$$p < 0.001 (two-way ANOVA, sufficient vs deficient); ⁺⁺p < 0.01, ⁺⁺⁺p < 0.001 (two-way ANOVA, air vs CS); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001 (Bonferroni post-hoc test). Data are expressed as median ± IQR, with n = 8–15 mice/group