title: Permissivity of primary hepatocytes and hepatoma cell lines to support hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: The major cell type supporting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the hepatocyte; however, most reports studying viral entry and replication utilize transformed hepatoma cell lines. We demonstrate that HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) infect primary hepatocytes with comparable rates to hepatoma cells, demonstrating the limited variability in donor hepatocytes to support HCV receptor-glycoprotein-dependent entry. In contrast, we observed a 2-log range in viral replication between the same donor hepatocytes. We noted that cell proliferation augments pseudoparticle reporter activity and arresting hepatoma cells yields comparable levels of infection to hepatocytes. This study demonstrates comparable rates of HCVpp entry into primary hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, validating the use of transformed cells as a model system to study HCV entry.
authors: Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Garrick K
authors: GK
authors: Wilson
authors: Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Michelle J
authors: MJ
authors: Farquhar
authors: Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Luke
authors: L
authors: Meredith
authors: Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital and Kings College London, London SE5 9RS, UK.
authors: Anil
authors: A
authors: Dhawan
authors: Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital and Kings College London, London SE5 9RS, UK.
authors: Ragai
authors: R
authors: Mitry
authors: Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Balfe
authors: Institute for Biomedical Research and NIHR Liver Biomedical Research Unit, Centre for Human Virology, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Jane A
authors: JA
authors: McKeating
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D056189:Viral Tropism; D053586:Virus Internalization; D014779:Virus Replication