Virological characterization of the hepatitis C virus JFH-1 strain in lymphocytic cell lines.
While hepatocytes are the major site of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a number of studies have suggested that HCV can replicate in lymphocytes. However, in vitro culture systems to investigate replication of HCV in lymphocytic cells are severely limited. Robust HCV culture systems have been established using the HCV JFH-1 strain and Huh-7 cells. To gain more insights into the tissue tropism of HCV, we investigated the infection, replication, internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent translation and polyprotein processing of the HCV JFH-1 strain in nine lymphocytic cell lines. HCV JFH-1 failed to infect lymphocytes and replicate, but exhibited efficient polyprotein processing and IRES-dependent translation in lymphocytes as well as in Huh-7 cells. Our results suggest that lymphocytic cells can support HCV JFH-1 translation and polyprotein processing, but may lack some host factors essential for HCV JFH-1 infection and replication.
Murakami
Kyoko
K
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Kimura
Toshiro
T
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Osaki
Motonao
M
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Ishii
Koji
K
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Miyamura
Tatsuo
T
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Suzuki
Tetsuro
T
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Wakita
Takaji
T
Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
Shoji
Ikuo
I
Division of Microbiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0017, Japan.|Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
D002460:Cell Line; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053586:Virus Internalization; D014779:Virus Replication
D014764:Viral Proteins