Fig. 2

Silencing of ZNF148 promotes HBV transcription and replication. Lentiviruses expressing shRNA targeting ZNF148 or the control shRNA (shCont) were transduced into HepG2-NTCP cells infected with HBV or Huh7 cells transfected with prcccDNA/Cre plasmids. The cells were harvested after 5 d. (A) Western blot analysis was used to determine the efficiency of ZNF148 silencing. (B-D) ZNF148 silencing increased HBV RNA levels, as demonstrated by real-time PCR and Northern blotting. (E-F) Knockdown of ZNF148 increased the level of HBV core DNA, as determined by real-time PCR and Southern blotting. (G-H) Suppression of ZNF148 resulted in increases in the HBsAg and HBeAg concentrations, as measured by ELISA. (I) Western blot analysis was performed to measure the level of the HBc protein. (J) The abundances of HBV RNAs, DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg in PHHs were quantified by real-time PCR and ELISA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01