A preliminary study on hepatitis C virus infection of a human liver cell line HepG2 in vitro / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish practical cell model of HCV infection, and investigate the susceptibility of a human liver cell line HepG2 to hepatitis C virus in vitro. Methods A human liver cell line HepG2 was incubated with serum from a chronic hepatitis C patient for 6～8 hours. Both the plus and minus strands of HCV RNA in infected cells or supernatant were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). The HCV NS 3,NS 5 antigens in infected cells were respectively detected with the monoclonal antibodies to antigens of their own by immunohistochemical assay. The minus strand of HCV RNA in infected cells were localized by in situ hybridization. Results The intracellular plus or minus stands of HCV RNA were first detected on day 3 post incubation and then could be intermittently detected until day 35 post incubation in cells or supernatant. The positive signals of NS 3,NS 5 antigens could be expressed within cytoplasm of infected cells. The minus strand of HCV RNA was located within cytoplasm by in situ hybridization. Conclustions These results show that a human liver cell line HepG2 is not only susceptible to HCV but also able to support its long time replication in vitro.