The cell number was also decreased by EV71 infection (0.57 ± 0.01 × 104) compared to mock infection (1.53 ± 0.03 × 104) (P < 0.001), whereas caspase-3 inhibitor increased the cell number after EV71 infection (1.06 ± 0.06 × 104) compared to EV71 infection alone (Figure 4C). This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and infection.