NSUN2 positively regulates HBV expression and replication <i>in vivo</i>.

(A-F) Three groups of C57BL/6JGpt-Nsun2+/+ mice (six in each group) and one group of C57BL/6JGpt-Nsun2+/- mice were prepared for in vivo experiments. Plasmids including pHBV1.3, pHBV1.3-C2017A, and pHBV1.3-C2268T were delivered into mice with hydrodynamic injection. 4 days after injection, mice blood and liver tissues were harvested for analysis. (A) Western blot of NSUN2 protein in Nsun2+/+ and Nsun2+/- mice. (B) HBV antigens including HBsAg and HBeAg were detected with ELISA from mice sera. (C) Northern blot (left) and gray degree analysis (right) of HBV RNA from mice liver. (D) HBV rcDNA qPCR results in mouse sera. (E) Immunohistochemical staining of HBcAg from mice liver. The red arrow indicates the expression of HBcAg. Graphs show the mean ± SD derived from three independent experiments and were analyzed by one-way ANOVA analysis. ns, not significant for P > 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P< 0.001, ****P< 0.0001.