Curcumin inhibits hepatitis B virus infection by down-regulating cccDNA-bound histone acetylation

Figure 4 Histone deacetylase inhibitors block the inhibitory effect of curcumin. A: HepG2.215 cells were treated with 20 μmol/L curcumin alone or with either 5 mmol/L sodium butyrate or 1 μmol/L TSA for 2 d. Medium was collected and analysed for levels of HBsAg; B: HBV cccDNA was extracted and subjected to real-time qPCR. All experiments were performed in duplicate and repeated at least three times. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. cccDNA: Covalently closed circular DNA; DMSO: Dimethyl sulphoxide; TSA: Trichostatin A; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HBsAg: HBV surface antigen.