Figure 3

HCV 3a Core gene increases p-Akt at protein level and increases cell proliferation. A) The protein expression levels were determined by western blot analysis from Huh-7 cell lysates transfected with HCV Core vectors of genotype 1a, 3a and effect on p-Akt was analyzed using specific antibodies. GAPDH was used as internal control for normalization in western blotting. B) Blots were also normalized by measuring the amount of GAPDH (histogram). Bars are mean of optical density ratio of each group.* p < 0.001 verses control and Core 1a. GAPDH gene was used as internal control for normalization in western blotting. C) MTT assay showing the proliferation of Huh-7 cells transfected with Mock. HCV-core 3a and Core 1a, harvested at 48 hr and ob Otsuka M, served at 570 nm wavelength. All experiments were performed in 3 independent experiments having triplicate samples in each. Error bars indicate, mean S.D, *p < 0.01 verses mock.