Fig. 1.

HCV core up-regulates HAMP gene expression and differentially modulates components of the iron regulatory pathway. a Huh7 and HepG2 cells were transiently co-transfected with the full-length (−3.1 kb) and a truncated form (−960) of HAMP promoter and expression plasmids coding for vector pCI or c191. Promoter activity was measured using a commercially available luciferase assay. HAMP mRNA levels in b pTRE and C2-3 cells and c Huh7 cells transfected with expression plasmids coding for c191 or empty vector (pCI). Total RNA was isolated and subjected to qRT-PCR with HAMP gene-specific primers. d Secreted HAMP protein levels from pTRE and C2-3 supernatants measured by a competitive ELISA assay. e Western-blot analysis of whole-cell extracts from pTRE and C2-3 cells with antibodies against various components of the iron regulatory pathway. β-actin was used as an internal control. Polypeptide molecular weights are given on the side in kDa