Fig. 3. STAT3 overexpression promoted HCV replication in JFH-1-infected Huh7 cells. RT-qPCR assay of STAT3 mRNA expression (A) and western blot assay of STAT3 protein expression (B) in JFH-1-infected Huh7 cells. (C–E) At 48 h after transfection with pDNA-STAT3, Huh7 cells were infected with JFH-1 (0.01 MOI) for 24 h, followed by the evaluation of STAT3 protein expression (C), HCV RNA expression (D), NS3 and NS5A protein expressions (E). (F–H) Huh7 cells were pretreated with 0, 10, and 20 μM of LIF for 1 h before infection with JFH-1 (0.01 MOI) for 24 h, followed by the assessment of STAT3-Y705 phosphorylation (F), HCV RNA expression (G), NS3 and NS5A proteins expression (H). *P < 0.05 vs. corresponding control.