Figure 6. Interferon α treatment reverses the adaptation to chronic ER stress.

HCV infected cells were treated with Interferon á 2a (1800 IU/ml were added to cell growth medium and changed daily), or left untreated. On day 14 post infection, cells were stimulated with thapsigargin as indicated. (a) XBP-1 splicing was assessed by RT-PCR. Quantification of the results was obtained from densitometric scanning of the blots (means±S.D.) of 3 experiments. * = p<0.05, **p<0.01 for interferon treated versus non-treated cells. (b) Gene expression levels were determined by real-time PCR and normalized to b-actin expression. Results are means±S.D. of 3 independent experiments. *p<0.05, (ANOVA, one way) for interferon treated versus non-treated cells.