QUANTITATION OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-RNA PRODUCTION IN 2 HUMAN BONE-MARROW-DERIVED B-CELL LINES INFECTED IN-VITRO

The ability of hepatitis C virus (RCV) to replicate in two B-cell line s, CE and TOFE, derived from bone marrow of healthy subjects was compa red using qualitative and quantitative molecular methods. The presence of intracellular negative-stranded HCV RNA (replicative intermediate) was investigated by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the inf ected cultures at different times after infection. The amounts of posi tive-stranded HCV RNA (genomic RNA copies) synthesized and released fr om cells one week after in vitro infection were determined by competit ive PCR after reverse transcription of viral RNA for the 5' viral untr anslated region. In both cell lines, HCV RNA replication took place, b ut the TOFE cell line appeared to be a more efficient virus producer t han the CE cell line. The TOFE cell line could be a valuable and relia ble tool for basic and clinical HCV studies.