FIG 1.

SFTSV NSs altered the expression of cytokine and chemokine genes and their suppression by an NF-κB inhibitor. (A) Expression of the IL-8, IL-6, CXCL1, CXCL2, CCL2, and IL2RA genes in HeLa cells expressing or not expressing NSs-Flag was quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) upon mock treatment or SeV infection for 9 h in the absence or presence of TPCA-1 (20 µM) (n = 3). DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide. (B) Serum MCP-1 and IL-2Rα levels in SFTS patients. Comparison of fatal and nonfatal cases is shown. (C) (Left) HeLa cells were transfected with expression vector for control (siNC) or siRNA targeting p65 of NF-κB (sip65). Expression of p65 was examined by immunoblotting. (Right) Expression of the IL-8 gene in HeLa cells transfected with either sip65 or siNC in the presence or absence of NSs expression and SeV infection, as indicated (n = 3). (D) Wild-type HeLa cells and mutant HeLa cells deficient in both IKKα and -β (IKKA,B DKO) or IKKγ (IKKG KO) were stimulated by SeV infection in the presence or absence of NSs expression, as indicated. IL-8 gene expression was monitored by qRT-PCR (n = 3). Data are presented as means ± SEM. The Student t test was used for statistical analysis (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001).