HHV-8/KSHV Rta activates the endogenous

hIL-6 gene. pcDNA3/Rta or pcDNA3 (1 μg) was transfected into 293T (A) or R1T (B) cells. Supernatants were harvested 24, 48, and 72 hours later, diluted where appropriate, and assayed for hIL-6 protein levels by ELISA. Average hIL-6 protein concentrations in the supernatants are indicated by horizontal bars, with the numbers (pg/mL) shown. The detection range of the ELISA kit is 7.8 to 500 pg/mL. Dotted line in panel A indicates the lowest detection limit of the kit. When the hIL-6 level in one or more experiments was lower than 7.8 pg/mL, the average for that time point was not calculated. A logarithmic scale is used in panel B.