FIG 6.

HBeAg suppresses IL-1β-induced NF-κB signaling in HBV-infected primary human hepatocytes (PHHs). (A) PHHs were incubated with the wild-type or HBeAg-negative HBV and inactivated HBV as a control and cultured for 8 days. Expressions of HBeAg and core protein of the above samples were confirmed via immunofluorescence using anti-HBeAg and anti-core antibodies, respectively. Nuclear localization was detected using DAPI. (B and C) PHHs were incubated with wild-type or HBeAg-negative HBV and inactivated HBV as a control and cultured for 8 days. Cells were then treated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) or the combination of IL-1β (10 ng/ml) and OxPAPC (300 μg/ml) for 20 h, and the IL-6 levels in the cell supernatants were determined via ELISA. ***, P < 0.001; **, P < 0.01; *, P < 0.05.