FIG 4.

Effect of HCV infection on the expression of RNF2 in association with HOX gene induction. (A) Cell lysates were prepared at 9 dpi from mock-infected (Mock) and HCV-infected (HCV) cells and were then subjected to Western blotting using anti-HCV core, anti-BMI1, anti-RNF2, and anti-β-actin antibodies. (B) RNF2 and BMI1 mRNA levels were estimated with RT-qPCR and normalized to the GAPDH mRNA level. Each calculated value in the HCV-infected cells is presented as a relative value calculated based on the value in the mock-infected cells, which was set as 1.0. The data are representative of three independent experiments and are presented as the mean ± SD values (n = 3). (C) Huh7OK1 cells were transfected with the empty plasmid and/or the RNF2-HA-encoding plasmid. The HOXB9 mRNA level (top graph) was estimated with RT-qPCR. The HOXB9 mRNA level was normalized to the GAPDH mRNA level and is presented as a relative value compared to the empty plasmid control. The levels of H2Aub, H2A, H3, RNF2-HA, endogenous RNF2, and β-actin were evaluated by immunoblotting (lower panels). **, P < 0.01. The data shown in this figure are representative of three independent experiments and are presented as the mean ± SD values (n = 3).