[Study on hepatitis C virus infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic hepatitis C patients].
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate HCV infection and replication in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of hepatitis patients by the methods of molecular biology, immunology and electron microscopy.


METHODS
HCV RNA and antigens were detected in the PBMCs of 28 patients with chronic hepatitis C by RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, respectively.


RESULTS
The positive rate of HCV RNA and HCV antigens were 77.27% (17/22) and 75.00% (21/28), respectively. Two types of spherical HCV-like particles with diameter of approximately 65 nm and 110 nm were observed in cytoplasmic vesicles by electron microscopy in the PBMCs with high titer of HCV RNA and antigens in 10 patients. The budding and shedding of these particles could also be found in the cytoplasmic vesicles. Immunoelectron microscopy using antibodies against HCV core and NS(3) demonstrated that the particles contained HCV antigens.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV can infect and replicate in the PBMCs of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Chen
L
L
Institute of Liver Disease, PLA. Beijing Army General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China.
Chen
P
P
An
P
P
Tian
H
H
Liu
C
C
Li
L
L
D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral