Characterization of infectious hepatitis C virus from liver-derived cell lines

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Dec 19;377(3):747-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.10.063. Epub 2008 Oct 23.

Abstract

The efficient production of infectious HCV from the JFH-1 strain is restricted to the Huh7 cell line and its derivatives. However, the factors involved in this restriction are unknown. In this study, we examined the production of infectious HCV from other liver-derived cell lines, and characterized the produced viruses. Clones of the Huh7, HepG2, and IMY-N9, harboring the JFH-1 full-genomic replicon, were obtained. The supernatant of each cell clone exhibited infectivity for naïve Huh7. Each infectious supernatant was then characterized by sucrose density gradient. For all of the cell lines, the main peak of the HCV-core protein and RNA exhibited at approximately 1.15g/mL of buoyant density. However, the supernatant from the IMY-N9 differed from that of Huh7 in the ratio of core:RNA at 1.15g/mL and significant peaks were also observed at lower density. The virus particles produced from the different cell lines may have different characteristics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Hepacivirus / chemistry
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepacivirus / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Liver / virology*
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • Virus Replication*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral