RRC ID 1413
Author Kurihara C, Tsuzuki Y, Hokari R, Nakashima H, Mataki N, Kuroki M, Kawaguchi A, Nagao S, Kondo T, Miura S.
Title A highly hydrophobic domain within hypervariable region 1 may be related to the entry of hepatitis C virus into cultured human hepatoma cells.
Journal J Med Virol
Abstract Interaction of the envelope glycoprotein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with a cellular receptor(s) is thought to be essential for the initial steps of HCV infection. However, the mechanisms of HCV infection remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the features of HCV that enable efficient entry of the virus into human hepatocytes. Variations of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) sequences in HCV inocula and in infected human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells were examined. Immunofluorescence of inoculated HepG2 cells with anti-HCV core antibodies demonstrated that HCV structural proteins were expressed in the cytoplasm, and their entry into HepG2 cells was confirmed. When the HVR1 amino acid sequences were compared, HVR1 quasispecies in the inoculated cells showed more uniformity than those of the inocula. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups, hydrophobic residues were observed more frequently in the HVR1 amino acids from inoculated cells than in the HVR1 amino acids from the inocula. Results of hydropathy analysis revealed that highly hydrophobic domains exist in the middle of HVR1 in the inoculated cells in 7 of 10 patients. The results suggest that limited HCV populations are able to enter HepG2 cells and that the highly hydrophobic domain existing within the HVR1 may play an important role in the entry of HCV into cells.
Volume 74(4)
Pages 546-55
Published 2004-12-1
DOI 10.1002/jmv.20213
PMID 15484277
MeSH Antibodies Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology* Complementarity Determining Regions / chemistry Complementarity Determining Regions / physiology* Hepacivirus / drug effects Hepacivirus / genetics Hepacivirus / physiology* Hepatocytes / virology Humans Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions Molecular Sequence Data Tumor Cells, Cultured
IF 2.021
Times Cited 3
WOS Category VIROLOGY
Resource
Human and Animal Cells Hep G2