Study on the infection and proliferation of HCV during hepatic differentiation of human hepatic stem cells

本研究的目的是揭示人类肝细胞允许HCV感染和增殖的发育阶段，使用我们实验室最初建立的人类肝干细胞。诱导肝分化后的肝干细胞感染HCV的实验表明，高效感染HCV需要高度成熟的肝细胞。我们的研究结果也提示了建立高效的HCV培养系统需要抑制细胞的先天免疫系统。

The aim of this study was to reveal the developmental stage of human hepatocytes permissive to the infection and proliferation of HCV, using human hepatic stem cells that originally established by our laboratory. Infection experiment of HCV using the hepatic stem cells after induction of hepatic differentiation suggested that the highly matured hepattocytes are required for efficient infection of HCV. Our results also suggested the requirement of suppression of innate immune system of the cells to establish efficient HCV culture system.