title: Ultrastructural evidences of HCV infection in hepatocytes of chronically HCV-infected patients.
abstract: In this study, 13 samples of liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied by transmission electron microscopy (EM) and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM). The 13 biopsies showed ultrastructural cell damage typical of acute viral hepatitis. In four of the 13 liver biopsies enveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) inside cytoplasmic vesicles and in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes were observed. We also detected the presence of unenveloped VLPs mainly in the cytoplasm and in the endoplasmic reticulum. IEM using anti-core, E1 and E2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) confirmed the specific localization of these proteins, in vivo, inside cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, this work provided evidence for hepatocellular injury related to HCV infection. It also suggested the presence of HCV-related replicating structures in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and raised the possibility of hepatitis C virion morphogenesis in intracellular vesicles.
authors.affiliation: Biomedicine Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 6162, C.P. 10600, Havana, Cuba. viviana.falcon@cigb.edu.cu
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falcón
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acosta-Rivero
authors.forename: Glay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chinea
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gavilondo
authors.forename: María-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de la Rosa
authors.forename: Ivón
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Menéndez
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dueñas-Carrera
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viña
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Bienvenido
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gra
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noa
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reytor
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales-Grillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins