Figure 5. Suppression of replicating HCV genome and the expressed proteins in the HCV-infected HuH cells.

(a) Suppression levels of HCV genomes. HCV-infected HuH-7 cells were infected with shRNA-expressing AdVs and interferon-expressing AdVs at MOI 2 (bars 1 to 4, 7, 8, 11 and 12) or at MOI 10 (bars 5, 6, 9 and 10). The copy numbers of HCV RNA were 1.0 × 10³ copies/cell. The suppression efficiencies of NC FG AdV and NC VA-deleted AdV were 3.7 (±5.5) and 27.8 (±9.7), respectively. The other presentations are the same as in Fig. 3. (b) Western blot analysis of HCV NS5A protein expressed in the viral-infected cells. Three days after the AdV infection at MOI 10, HCV NS5A and GAPDH proteins were detected using specific antibodies. CC, Cells infected with HCV but not with AdVs expressing the shRNAs. Arrows for NS5A indicate its hyper- (upper) and hypo- (lower) phosphorylated forms.