Hepatitis C virus infection of human hepatoma cell line 7721 in vitro

AIM To establish a cell culture system with long-term replication of hepati tis C virus in vitro. METHODS Human hepatoma cell line 7721 was tested for its susceptibility to HCV by incubating with a serum from a patient with chronic hepatitis C. Cel ls and supernatant were harvested at various phases during the culturing pe riods. The presence of HCV RNA, the expression of HCV antigens in cells and /or supernatant were examined by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohi stochemistry respectively. RESULTS The intracellular HCV RNA was first detected on d 2 after infection and then could be intermittently detected in both cells and supernatant ov er a period of at least three months. The expression of HCV NS3, CP10 antig ens could be observed in cells. The fresh cells could be infected by supern atant from cultured infected cells and the transmission of viral genome fro m HCV-Infected 7721 cells to PBMCs was also observed. CONCLUSION The hepatoma line 7721 is not only susceptible to HCV but also s upports its long-term replication in vitro.