Ethnic variation in circulating inflammatory responses in PTB is reduced by adjustment for host vitamin D binding protein (<b><i>DBP</i></b><b>) genotype, but accentuated by administration of intensive-phase antimicrobial therapy.</b>

<p>Principal component analysis (PCA) plots generated using circulating parameters which contribute to ethnic variation in inflammatory profile in patients with PTB are displayed. Each point represents one patient, and its position in the plot is determined by the combined effects of all circulating parameters measured for that patient sample contributing significantly to ethnic variation in inflammatory profile. The distance between sample points represents Euclidean distance. The first 3 component vectors are displayed, along with a % figure signifying the proportion of the variability in the data that each component accounts for. A, PCA plot of circulating immunological parameters in patients of African (black, n = 45) <i>vs.</i> Eurasian (green, n = 83) ancestry at baseline. B, PCA plot as for A, but with additional statistical adjustment for host <i>DBP</i> genotype; separation of samples from patients of African <i>vs.</i> Eurasian ancestry is reduced as compared with panel A, indicating that <i>DBP</i> genotype accounts for a significant degree of ethnic variation in baseline inflammatory profile. C, PCA plot of circulating immunological parameters after intensive phase antimicrobial therapy; separation of samples from patients of African <i>vs.</i> Eurasian ancestry is increased as compared with panel A, indicating that ethnic differences in inflammatory profile become more marked following two months of treatment.