[In vitro infection of human liver cancer cell line HepG2 with HCV].
BACKGROUND
To test susceptibility of human liver cell line Hep G2 to HCV in vitro.


METHODS
Hep G2 was cultivated with the serum from a chronic hepatitis C patient. After inoculation, plus and minus strand of HCV RNA, the expression of HCV NS3 antigen and the location of HCV RNA in cell and/or supernatant were examined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.


RESULTS
HCV RNA could be detected from day 2 to day 40 post-inoculation in both cell and supernatant. HCV NS3 antigen could be expressed in infected cells and HCV RNA was mainly situated within cytoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that HepG2 cell line was not only susceptible to HCV but also could support its replication in vitro.
Song
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Center for Infectious Disease of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Hao
Fei
F
Ma
Qiao-yu
QY
Wang
Yu-ming
YM
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases