Replication and multiplication of hepatitis C virus genome in human foetal liver cells.
The ability to obtain primary long-term cultures of human foetal hepatocytes maintaining liver differentiation characteristics in serum-free medium prompted us to test their susceptibility to hepatitis C virus infection. Using PCR, we detected the presence of the HCV RNA-positive strand in the supernatants and in the cells of the virus-infected hepatocyte cultures, at various times post-infection. Evidence of effective virus genome replication and multiplication was also based on the time-dependent appearance of the putative HCV RNA-negative strand, the detection of virus replicative intermediates and an increase in HCV genomic templates in the HCV-infected cells.
Iacovacci
S
S
Institute of Experimental Medicine, CNR, Roma, Italy.
Sargiacomo
M
M
Parolini
I
I
Ponzetto
A
A
Peschle
C
C
Carloni
G
G
D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000382:microbiology; D005333:Fetus; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014776:Virus Cultivation; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral