HCV core protein enhances AR activation. Huh-7 cells were transfected with pARE3-luc reporter plasmid DNA, pSG5-AR, and HCV-FL, HCV-core, HCV-NS5A, or vector alone. Cells were treated with 10 nM DHT 24 h posttransfection, and the luciferase activity was measured. The luciferase activity is presented as an average from three independent experiments (mean ± the SD). The lowest level of significance was P < 0.001.