Figure 3

Additive increase in TNFα-induced IL-8 expression by HCV core protein. A, NHLF were subjected to mock treatment or treatment with β-galactosidase (β-gal), β-galactosidase-HCV core protein (Core), TNFα, or Core and TNFα at the indicated concentrations and incubated for 24 h. Supernatants were assayed for IL-8 by ELISA as described in Materials and Methods. Experiments were done in triplicate. B, NHLF were treated to the above conditions and incubated for 24 h. Lysates were harvested, RNA isolated and reverse transcribed, and IL-8 detected using IL-8 specific primers or HPRT as a control for RNA loading as described in Materials and Methods.