FIG 4.

Berberine inhibited HSV IE gene expression. (A) Berberine inhibited ICP4-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Confluent HEC-1-A cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of berberine prior to infection with HSV-1 (MOI = 1). ICP4-1 expression was determined via an in-cell Western assay and normalized based on the β-catenin level at 24 h p.i. (B) Berberine inhibited HSV-1/blue ICP4 promoter-driven lacZ gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. HEC-1-A cells were treated with serial concentrations of berberine or MG132 (5 μg/ml) prior to infection with HSV-1/blue (MOI = 1). The β-Gal activity was measured as described in the text at 12 h p.i. (C) HEC-1-A cells were either mock treated or treated with berberine (50 μM) and then infected with HSV-1 (MOI = 1). The cells were lysed at each time point. ICP4 was visualized by Western blotting. (D) HEC-1-A cells were either mock treated or treated with berberine (50 μM) and then infected with HSV-1 (MOI = 1). The cells were lysed at each time point. ICP27 was visualized by Western blotting. (E) HEC-1-A cells were either mock treated or treated with berberine (50 μM) and then infected with HSV-1 (MOI = 1). The cells were lysed at each time point. ICP8 was visualized by Western blotting. The data represent means ± the SD of triplicate determinations from three dependent experiments.