A study on the relationship between HCV NS3 and endogenous IRF-3

This study aims to investigate the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A and endogenous interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3). The localization of endogenous IRF-3 protein before and after virus infection was analyzed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). IFA results revealed that the synergistic action of transfection and HCV virus infection could more effectively reduce the nuclear translocation of endogenous IRF-3 in HeLa cells, compared to the activation of Sendai virus infection alone. The highest nuclear translocation of endogenous IRF-3 in transfected HeLa cells occurred at 24 h after Sendai virus infection. Our study was consistent with a published paper, which revealed that HCV NS3/4A protease could suppress the activation of IRF-3 and was indispensable in the transcription of interferon (IFN)-α/β