RPS6 knockdown selectively suppresses HCV replication without causing global RNA degradation or cell death.

<p>The shRNAs used were <i>RPS6</i> shRNA2 and <i>lacZ</i> shRNA2 (A) Time-course study of <i>RPS6</i> knockdown on RNA (mRNA) levels of HCV Jc1 and cellular genes. Huh7.5 cells were transduced with shRNA-expressing lentivirus and infected with HCV Jc1 two hours later. RNA was harvested at different post-transduction (PT) time points, (e.g., PT3, three days after) for quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Error bars represent SD of the averages of two independent experiments. (<i>PBGD</i>, porphobilinogen deaminase; <i>PKR</i>, protein kinase R; <i>AK3</i>, adenylate kinase 3; <i>APOB</i>, apolioprotein B). (B) Time-course cell viability evaluation of <i>RPS6</i> knockdown cells. Cell morphology is shown in bright field. Live cells with esterase activity were stained in green fluorescence, whereas dead cells with damaged plasma membrane were stained in red fluorescence. CHX, cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor used as positive control, <i>lacZ</i> shRNA, negative control.