Fig. 3.

Hepatitis E virus macro domain marginally alters the transcription of iron metabolism genes. Huh-7 cells transfected by either empty vector or pcDNA-macro clone plasmid. After 72 h of transfection, cells were harvested and subjected to SYBR green-based quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays for a Ferritin light chain (FTL) b Ferroportin (Fpn) and c Transferrin receptor 1 (Tfr1) genes. Cells were either treated for 24 h with 100 µM Ferric Ammonium Citrate (FAC) or 100 µM Pyridoxal Isonicotinoyl Hydrazone (PIH) or left untreated. After normalization with GAPDH values, fold change in mRNA levels in transfected cells were expressed relative to control cells. The graphs represented three independent experiments (mean ± SD)