Figure 2

HCV infection activates ER-stress response and induces expression of numerous UPR genes for cell survival in infected PHHs and Huh-7.5 cells. (A) Illustrates the mechanisms for how HCV protein accumulation induces ER-stress and activates three branches of UPR gene expression. (B) Cell lysates prepared from infected PHHs were examined for the expression of ER-stress chaperone, Nrf2 activation; UPR genes (PERK, ATF6 and IRE1) by Western blot analysis. (C) UPR gene expression and Nrf2 activation in Huh-7.5 cells after HCV infection.