CD14 and tuberculosis: CD14 signaling contributes a part of host response to intracellular bacterial pathogens, such as MTB; and increased sCD14 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with active TB have been well documented [28], [29], and this enhanced sCD14 level mediates the pathogen-induced cell activation of cells lacking membranous CD14 (mCD14) [30].