Fig 6. Determination of the effects of IL-8 knockdown on inflammatory cytokine production mediated by HCV NS5A expression and HCV infection.

(A-D) Huh7 cells were transfected with IL-8 shRNA expression vector (0.5 μg) and then infected with HCV JFH-1 for 6 h. After 3 days of incubation, the total cellular RNA was extracted and analyzed using qRT-PCR. (E-H) Huh7 cells were co-transfected with pCMV-NS5A-Myc (1 μg) and IL-8 shRNA expression vector (0.5 μg). After 3 days of incubation, the total cellular RNA was extracted and analyzed using qRT-PCR. The relative TNF-α, iNOS, IL-1, and COX-2 RNA levels were normalized by gapdh expression. Data shown are mean ± SE; n = 3. *p < 0.05. **p < 0.01.