ATR and tuberculosis: Since in TB-associated granuloma formation, polynucleation and polyploidy are associated with alterations in DNA damage control and changes in expression of Mafb, C-myc, Trp53, and Atr [14], we assessed the mRNA expression of these genes in the MHCII+ subpopulations of HDM-triggered tAMs, by semi-quantitative real time PCR.