FIG 6.

Antiviral effects of 20-deoxyingenol on HBV replication in cell cultures. (A) 20-Deoxyingenol increased capsid formation in HepG2 cells transfected with 3×Flag-G₄S92-HBc. HepG2 cells transfected with 3×Flag-G₄S92-HBc were treated with 20-deoxyingenol for 6 days. Intracellular capsids were detected by particle gel assay. Core protein expression was detected by Western blotting, and the core dimer was assayed by nonreducing PAGE. (B) 20-Deoxyingenol promoted capsid formation in HepAD38 cells. Different concentrations of 20-deoxyingenol were used to treat HepAD38 cells for 6 days. Capsids and core proteins were detected by particle gel assay and Western blotting, respectively. (C) 20-Deoxyingenol inhibited HBV DNA replication in HepAD38 cells. Intracellular core DNA was extracted from HepAD38 cells treated with 20-deoxyingenol for 6 days and assayed by Southern blotting. (D) 20-Deoxyingenol inhibited HBV DNA replication in HepG2.2.15 cells. Different concentrations of 20-deoxyingenol were used to treat HepG2.2.15 cells for 6 days. Intracellular core DNA was extracted and detected by Southern blotting. The levels of β-actin in the lysates (the first step of core DNA extraction) were used as controls for cell numbers.