Activated THP-1 Cells: an Attractive Model for the Assessment of Intracellular Growth Rates of<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>Isolates

Abstract

Capacity of certain Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to grow more rapidly in human macrophages may be indicative of increased virulence. Significant differences were observed in intracellular growth of two isolates from sites of tuberculosis transmission, with an outbreak-associated strain growing faster than a strain causing disease in only one person. Activated THP-1 cells are a suitable alternative to peripheral blood monocyte models.