Fig 6. HBV/HBx does not directly affect SOC channel activity.

(A, B, C, and D) Control and HBx-expressing primary rat hepatocytes were loaded with 5 μM Fura-4F and treated with 2 μM TG in Ca²⁺-free buffer for 10 min. 2 mM BaCl₂ (Ba²⁺) (A and B) or 2 mM MnCl₂ (Mn²⁺) (C and D) was then added back to the imaging buffer and ratios were recorded during the following 10 min. (A and B) The initial rate of Ba²⁺ entry was calculated as the slope representing Ba²⁺ influx during the initial 15 seconds following Ba²⁺ addition. The Ba²⁺ plateau was calculated as the difference in the plateau Fura-4F ratio following Ba²⁺ addition and the baseline Fura-4F ratio prior to Ba²⁺ addition (R_plateau−R_baseline). (C and D) The rate of Mn²⁺ quench was calculated as the slope representing Mn²⁺ influx during the initial 15 seconds following Mn²⁺ addition. (A, B, C, and D) The data represent the means ± SE and are taken from at least three experiments from different hepatocyte preparations.