Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed as described earlier (32) . The primers used were OAS1 forward, 5 0 -AGG TGG TAA AGG GTG GCT CC-3 0 and OAS1 reverse 5 0 -ACA ACC AGG TCA GCG TCA GAT-3 0 ; RIG-I forward 5 0 -GAG GCA GAG GAA GAG CAA GAG G-3 0 and RIG-I reverse 5 0 -CGC CTT CAG ACA TGG GAC GAA G-3 0 ; GAPDH forward 5 0 -TCA CTG CCA CCC AGA AGA CTG-3 0 and GAPDH reverse 5 0 -GGA TGA CCT TGC CCA CAG C-3 0 . The primers for HCV detection were 5 0 -CGC TCA ATG CCT GGA GAT TTG-3 0 and 5 0 -GCA CTC GCA AGC ACC CTA TC-3 0 .