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In vitro replication and expression of hepatitis B virus from chronically infected primary chimpanzee hepatocytes
Author(s) -
Jacob James R.,
Eichberg Jorg W.,
Lanford Robert E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840100605
Subject(s) - hepatocyte , hepatitis b virus , biology , virology , virus , viral replication , in vitro , duck hepatitis b virus , secretion , hepatitis b virus dna polymerase , hepatitis b virus pre beta , hepatitis , cell culture , hepatitis b , hepadnaviridae , biochemistry , genetics
Primary chimpanzee hepatocytes were maintained in vitro utilizing a serum‐free medium. Hepatocyte functions were sustained throughout the culture period as demonstrated by the synthesis and secretion of liver‐specific plasma proteins characteristic for differentiated hepatocytes. Hepatocyte cultures established from a chimpanzee chronically infected with human hepatitis B virus exhibited the synthesis and secretion of hepatitis B virus proteins into the medium. In addition, the de novo replication of hepatitis B virus was documented by the recovery of virus, exhibiting an endogenous DNA polymerase activity, from the tissue culture medium. Therefore, both the long‐term maintenance of differentiated hepatocytes and the expression of hepatitis B virus from these primary cultures were sustained in the serum‐free medium.