FIG. 7.

TNF-α and Fas are not involved in NS1-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes. HepG2 cells were transfected with eGFP/NS1, and transfected cells were assayed for apoptosis in the presence or absence of anti-TNF-α or anti-Fas ligand antibodies. Incubation of transfected cells with anti-TNF-α or anti-Fas ligand antibodies had no effect on apoptosis. The lack of inhibition was not due to lack of activity of the antibody, since the anti-TNF-α antibody was able to block apoptosis induced by the addition of recombinant TNF-α in the presence of cycloheximide.