Figure 3.

Secreted ISGs interrupt HBV binding. (a) Differentiated HepaRG cells were treated with 1000 IU/mL of IFN-α. One day later, the medium was removed. Cells were washed three times with PBS and refilled with new medium. The resulting medium containing interferon induced factors (ISG+) was collected 48 hours later. Part of the medium was heated at 99°C for 10 minutes to inactivate proteins (ISG+/−). The medium was incubated with fresh differentiated HepaRG cells for 24 hours followed by 4 hours of HBV incubation at 4°C. Peptide 19-2.5 was used as a positive control. (b) Cells were lysed and HBV-DNA were evaluated by qPCR. Data are means ± s.d. ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗P < 0.001 by Student's unpaired two-tailed t-test.