HEPATITIS-C VIRUS NEGATIVE STRAND RNA IS NOT DETECTED IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS AND VIRAL SEQUENCES ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE IN SERUM - A CASE AGAINST EXTRAHEPATIC REPLICATION

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 27 hepatitis C virus ( HCV)-infected patients were analysed for the presence of HCV negative strand RNA with strand-specific Tth-based RT-PCR. No negative strand R NA was detected in any sample, and positive strand HCV sequences ampli fied from PBMCs were identical to those found in serum. These findings suggest that HCV does not replicate in PBMCs, and the presence of HCV sequences at this site is compatible with passive virus adsorption an d/or contamination by circulating virus.