α-defensins synthesis and release by human eosinophils in the presence of BCG. (A) α-defensin expression after 2 hours of eosinophil stimulation (gray histogram) or unstimulation (dotted line) with BCG (10:1) in the presence of brefeldin A. Black line represents staining with isotype control. (B) α-defensin levels released by eosinophils activated by BCG were quantified by ELISA in cell culture supernatants. Results are expressed as mean plus or minus SEM (n = 3). (C) After incubation of eosinophils, pretreated by blocking anti-TLR2 antibody or isotype control, with PAM (0.5 μg/mL), LPS (0.1 μg/mL), or LM (1 μg/mL), α-defensin levels were quantified in the culture supernatants by ELISA. Results are represented as the mean of 3 independent experiments plus or minus SEM (D) Intracellular BCG growth inhibition. Eosinophils were treated or not treated with a blocking anti–α-defensin antibody (▵) or an isotype control (−) and were infected with BCG (5:1, ■). Values are mean plus or minus SEM of 3 independent experiments. Significant differences between conditions studied and controls are indicated; *P < .05; **P < .01.