Autophagic flux in human THP-1 cells infected with live Gc.

<p>PEA modification of Gc lipid A reduces autophagic flux in THP-1 cells. (A): Representative confocal microscopic images (from different fields) of autophagic flux in THP-1 cells stained with Cyto-ID^® autophagy probe, which partitions specifically into the autophagolysosomal vesicles, indicating active autophagy induction. THP-1 cells were infected with Gc strains at an MOI of 50. (B): Representative confocal microscopic images of autophagic flux in THP-1 cells treated with 20 μM chloroquine (CQ), infected with live Gc and stained with Cyto-ID^® autophagy probe. <b>C</b>: Autophagic flux index was calculated by counting green puncta divided by the number of cells (DAPI-stained blue nuclei) in multiple fields. Error bars represent the ±SD from the mean of autophagic flux index of 8 different fields. <i>p</i> values were calculated using Student <i>t</i>-test in reference to cells infected with the WT FA19 (*) strain without CQ. These data are representative of two independent experiments performed in technical duplicates.