FIG. 2.

Role of IRF-1, RNase L, or PKR in antiviral activity induced by poly-I/C. Groups of age-, sex-, and serum HBeAg-matched transgenic mice (four mice per group) that were either heterozygous or homozygous for the indicated null mutation were injected intravenously with a single dose of poly(I-C) (200 μg/mouse) and sacrificed 24 h later. Total hepatic DNA was analyzed for HBV replication by Southern blot analysis. Bands corresponding to integrated transgene (Trans.), relaxed circular (RC), and single-stranded (SS) linear HBV DNA replicative forms are indicated. The integrated transgene can be used to normalize the amount of DNA bound to the membrane. Total hepatic RNA was analyzed for the expression of cytokine- and 2′,5′-OAS-specific transcripts by an RPA. TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin. The RNA encoding ribosomal protein L32 was used to normalize the amount of RNA loaded in each lane. The results were compared with those observed for livers pooled from 10 age-, sex-, and serum HBeAg-matched transgenic littermates injected with saline (NaCl). The mean sALT activity, measured at the time of autopsy, is indicated for each group and is expressed in units per liter.