Induction of endoplasmic reticulum-derived oxidative stress by an occult infection related S surface antigen variant

Figure 6 Nitric oxide increase via up-regulation of iNOS expression by a hepatitis B virus S surface antigen variants (KD). A: After transient transfection of plasmids (MOCK, NOR, and KD) into HuH-7 cells, up-regulation of iNOS expression was observed in the KD variant compared to the MOCK and NOR. The relative intensity was determined, and all data are expressed as the mean ± SD within a group. The three experiments were compared using Tukey’s multiple post-hoc test (^bP < 0.01 vs three experiments); B: After transient transfection, NO levels were assessed using a nitric oxide (NO) ELISA (Assay Designs, MI, United States). NO levels in the KD HBsAg variant increased significantly compared to the MOCK and NOR. The relative intensity was determined, and all data are expressed as the mean ± SD within a group. The three experiments were compared using Tukey’s multiple post-hoc test (^bP < 0.01 vs three experiments).