Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in liver tissue: an overview.
One of the approaches used to study the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus-associated disease is to follow its replicative pattern in infected tissues and to establish anatomo-clinical correlations. As in other viral infections, the techniques used to study hepatitis C virus replication in tissues are the Northern gel analysis, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, the in situ hybridization and the in situ-polymerase chain reaction. The replicative level of hepatitis C virus is, however, low, and the results reported using the above techniques are often discordant and difficult to reproduce, suggesting that both sensitivity and specificity are major issues. Thus, a critical step in the approach to the study of hepatitis C virus replication is the design of appropriate specificity experiments. New technologies, such as tissue microdissection coupled to the single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, may help to provide a definitive answer to the key questions concerning hepatitis C virus tropism and interaction with the host.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. Francesco.Negro@hcuge.ch
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D046508:Culture Techniques; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D012367:RNA, Viral