PSMA2 KD reduces proteasome activity but does not affect IAV replication in the presence of NAC. (A and B) Change in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels over time (A) and at 6 hpi (B) by PR8 infection, PSMA2 KD, and PR8 infection in A549 cells. (C) Expression of PSMA1 and PSMA6 in A549 and MRC-5 cells after PSMA2 knockdown. (D) 20S proteasome activity in PSMA2 KD cells. (E) Impact of MG132 and NAC on IAV replication in wild-type cells and after PSMA2 KD in A549 cells. (F) Impact of MG132 and NAC on IAV replication in wild-type MRC-5 cells and after PSMA2 KD. All significance levels were calculated in comparison with NSC/SC, without the bars compared with the horizontal lines. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.