Lung surfactant protein D (SP-D) binds to Mycobacterium tuberculosis surface lipoarabinomannan and results in bacterial agglutination, reduced uptake, and inhibition of growth in human macrophages. Here we show that SP-D limits the intracellular growth of bacilli in macrophages by increasing phagosome-lysosome fusion but not by generating a respiratory burst.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, N-1147 Doan Hall, 410 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
