Atg5 knockdown suppressed H9N2/G1-induced CXCL10 and IFN-α protein expression. Macrophages were transfected with siAtg5 or siCtrl at 200 nM. At 48 hour post-transfection, cells were infected with H9N2/G1. Quantities of CXCL10 (a) (n=4) and IFN-α (b) (n=5) in the culture supernatants at 8 h.p.i. were measured by ELISA. The data represent the percentage of CXCL10 and IFN-α expression from siAtg5-transfected cells relative to siCtrl-transfected cells. *P<0.05, #P<0.01. h.p.i., hour post-infection; IFN, interferon; siAtg5, small interfering RNA oligos specific to Atg5; siCtrl, non-targeting control oligos.