FIG. 3.

(A) HCV- or (B) HCV protein-induced DSBs. DSBs were detected by linker-ligation PCR as previously reported (31). HCV-infected cells were analyzed 12 days after infection. The viral-protein-expressing cells were analyzed 5 days after transfection. Some experiments were performed in the presence of ROS and NO inhibitors, respectively. The positive and negative controls used are indicated. Cytokines (TNF-α, gamma interferon, and IL-1β) were used as positive controls for double-stranded DNA breaks. HCV+, HCV; HCV−, UV-inactivated HCV. (B) ROS inhibitor (NAC) prevented viral-protein-induced ROS. (C) NAC or SOD treatment completely inhibited E1-induced DSBs, but partially inhibited core or NS3-induced DSBs. (D) NAC and iNOS inhibitor (1400W) together completely inhibited viral-protein-induced DSBs. (E to G) Caspase inhibitor (Z-DEVD-FMK) did not inhibit viral-protein-induced DSBs.