In vitro replication and expression of hepatitis B virus from chronically infected primary chimpanzee hepatocytes.
Primary chimpanzee hepatocytes were maintained in vitro utilizing a serum-free medium. Hepatocyte functions were sustained throughout the culture period as demonstrated by the synthesis and secretion of liver-specific plasma proteins characteristic for differentiated hepatocytes. Hepatocyte cultures established from a chimpanzee chronically infected with human hepatitis B virus exhibited the synthesis and secretion of hepatitis B virus proteins into the medium. In addition, the de novo replication of hepatitis B virus was documented by the recovery of virus, exhibiting an endogenous DNA polymerase activity, from the tissue culture medium. Therefore, both the long-term maintenance of differentiated hepatocytes and the expression of hepatitis B virus from these primary cultures were sustained in the serum-free medium.
Jacob
J R
JR
Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas 78284.
Eichberg
J W
JW
Lanford
R E
RE
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D014776:Virus Cultivation / Q000379:methods; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
D003470:Culture Media; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase