title: NTCP opens the door for hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: A liver bile acids transporter, sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP, encoded by SLC10A1) was recently identified as a functional receptor for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its satellite hepatitis D virus (HDV). NTCP-complemented human hepatoma HepG2 cells (HepG2-NTCP) were shown to support infection of HBV and HDV in vitro, providing a much-needed and convenient cell culture system for the viruses. Identification of NTCP as a functional receptor for HBV has significantly advanced our understanding of the viral life cycle and opened new opportunities for developing anti-HBV interventions. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "An unfinished story: from the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for hepatitis B".
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Postdoctoral Program, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Graduate Program, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China. Electronic address: liwenhui@nibs.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000502:physiology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D029363:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent / Q000378:metabolism*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D027981:Symporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D053586:Virus Internalization
chemical_list: D029363:Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Dependent; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D027981:Symporters; C071908:sodium-bile acid cotransporter
keywords: Cell culture; Drug development; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis D virus; Receptor; Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP)