Figure 9.

The effect of ER-stress inhibitors and oxidative stress inhibitors on Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HCV replication. Persistently HCV infected Huh-7.5 cells were treated with ER-stress inhibitor TUDCA, PERK inhibitor, and an anti-oxidant (α-tocopherol) for 72 hours. After this treatment, cells were harvested by trypsin-EDTA, washed with PBS, and immobilized onto glass slide by cytospin method. Immunostaining for HCV core and pNrf2 was performed. (A) Shows the nuclear translocation of pNrf2 in HCV infected Huh-7.5 cells with different inhibitors. Short-term treatment with inhibitors did not change HCV core expression. (B) Shows the quantification core and Nrf2 nuclear translocation after different inhibitors by ImageJ software. (C) Impact of HCV clearance by DAA treatment on the Nrf2 nuclear translocation. HCV infected Huh-7.5 cells day 12 were given two rounds of antiviral treatment with IFN-α, sofosbuvir, ledipasvir or combination of sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir. After 72 hours, cells were split, and then treated again with the same antiviral agent. After two rounds of antiviral treatment, the expressions of HCV core and pNrf2 were measured by immunostaining. (D) Shows the quantification core and Nrf2 nuclear translocation after antiviral treatments by ImageJ software.