Figure 8.

A lack of hcmv-US33as-5p impaired viral resistance to the IFN pathway during latency and reactivation. (A) A schematic diagram depicting the in vitro models of latent infection and viral reactivation. For latent infection, THP-1 cells were infected with WT or ΔmiRNA HCMV (MOI = 10) and maintained for 9 days in a culture medium supplemented with or without IFN (500 IU/mL). For viral reactivation, THP-1 cells were infected and maintained for 10 days in the culture medium. Then, the THP-1 cells were stimulated with TPA and further maintained in the medium for another 5 days. The cells were stimulated in a culture medium supplemented with or without IFN (500 IU/mL) beginning at 8 dpi. (B) The expression of miRNA among groups was examined by qPCR.THP-1 (C,D) The viral loads at indicated days were determined by qPCR and western blot. (E,F) The expression of IFNAR1 and ISGs (Mx1, RSAD2) among groups were determined by qPCR. **p < 0.05.