title: HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells are a non-permissive system for B19 virus infection.
abstract: Parvovirus B19 has been associated with liver dysfunction and has been considered a potential aetiological agent of fulminant hepatitis and hepatitis-associated aplastic anaemia. The possible effects of B19 virus infection on the liver have been investigated using HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells as a model system, but the reported results are inconsistent. To investigate this relationship further, this study followed the course of B19 virus infection of HepG2 cells in terms of viral DNA, RNA and protein production by quantitative PCR, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays. The data showed that B19 virus is able to bind and possibly enter HepG2 cells, but that viral genome replication or transcription is not supported and that viral proteins are not produced. As far as HepG2 cells can be considered a representative model system, any possible pathogenic role of B19 virus on the liver cannot be ascribed to infection or to a direct cytopathic effect on hepatocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonvicini
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Filippone
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manaresi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marialuisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallinella
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins