In contrast to ACSL4, expression of GNMT was significantly downregulated by co-infection; that is, our transcriptome analysis revealed that expression of GNMT was reduced by approximately 3 fold, and further reduced by 7- and 9-fold at the advanced stage of mono- and co-infection, respectively, compared with the early stage of HCV mono-infection (Fig 4). Here, ACSL4 is linked to infection.