Figure 3.

shRNA-mediated HMGCR knockdown in Caco2 cells represses rotavirus replication. (a) Lentiviral shRNA vectors, targeting HMGCR gene or non-targeted control lentivirus were produced in HEK 293 T cells. Subsequently, the transductions of the lentiviral shRNA vectors were performed in Caco2 cells. qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to detect the RNA levels of HMGCR among shRNA 10951–10955 HMGCR vectors. (b) Based on the qRT-PCR analysis, the HMGCR knockdown effects of sh10952 and sh10955 vectors were confirmed by western blot analysis (n = 3). (c) The HMGCR knockdown significantly inhibited the intracellular rotavirus RNA replications post-infection 48 hours (n = 6), and (d) the decreased expressions of rotavirus VP4 protein by western blot analysis (n = 3). (e) The decreased expressions of rotavirus VP6 protein by HMGCR knockdown. VP6 protein was stained as green, and nuclei were visualized by DAPI (blue). All data presented as mean ± SEM, *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001