Inhibition of subgenomic hepatitis C virus RNA replication in HeLa cells.
OBJECTIVE
Antiviral therapy such as combination interferon and ribavirin can eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by up to 40-50%. However, many patients still remain non-responders to this treatment for various reasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interferon or ribavirin treatment on subgenomic HCV RNA replication in 'non-hepatic' HeLa cells.


METHODS
Huh-7 or HeLa cells harboring HCV replicon were constructed by using cellular RNA of Huh-7 harboring HCV replicon RNAs, named as C13-3 cells. We also tested whether interferon or ribavirin can suppress HCV RNA in HeLa cells.


RESULTS
Huh-7 or HeLa cells harboring HCV replicon RNAs were constructed by using cellular RNA of C13-3 cells than using in vitro-transcribed RNA. Ribavirin at 1 microg/mL or 10 microg/mL did not suppress colony formation in HeLa cells, but at 100 microg/mL suppression was observed. Interferon-alpha 2b suppressed HCV replication even at 1 U/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
HeLa cells harboring HCV replicon RNAs also might be useful for the development of antiviral drugs.
Kanda
Tatsuo
T
Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. kandat-cib@umin.ac.jp
Yokosuka
Osamu
O
Mikata
Rintaro
R
Zhang
Kai Yu
KY
Tanaka
Masamichi
M
Tada
Motohisa
M
Fukai
Kenichi
K
Imazeki
Fumio
F
Saisho
Hiromitsu
H
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006367:HeLa Cells; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin