GP73 facilitates HCV infection and replication.

(A) GP73-RNAi-transduced stable Huh7 or Huh7-MAVSR cells were transfected with in vitro transcribed FL-J6/JFH5’C19Rluc2Aubi RNA (J6/JFH) for 48 h, and Renilla luciferase activities were measured. (B, C) GP73-RNAi-transduced stable Huh7-MAVSR cells were infected with HCV at MOI = 2 for indicated times. Intracellular HCV RNA abundance was determined by qRT-PCR (B), HCV core protein at 3 days post infection (d.p.i) was detected by WB (C). (D, E) Huh7-MAVSR-GP73-RNAi cells were transfected with GP73-rescue plasmid (GP73m4) for 24 h, followed by HCV infection at MOI = 2 for 3 days. HCV RNAs were determined by RT-PCR (D) and HCV core protein was detected by WB (E). (F) PHHs were transduced with GP73-shRNA lentivirus for 48 h, followed by HCV infection at MOI = 2 for 2 days. HCV RNA levels were determined by RT-PCR. Bar graphs represent means ± SD, **P < 0.01 compared with control group.