Hepatitis B Virus-Infected HepG2hNTCP Cells Serve as a Novel Immunological Tool To Analyze the Antiviral Efficacy of CD8+ T Cells In Vitro

J Virol. 2015 Jul;89(14):7433-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00605-15. Epub 2015 May 13.

Abstract

CD8(+) T cells are the main effector lymphocytes in the control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, limitations of model systems, such as low infection rates, restrict mechanistic studies of HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells. Here, we established a novel immunological cell culture model based on HBV-infected HepG2(hNTCP) cells that endogenously processed viral antigens and presented them to HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells. This induced cytolytic and noncytolytic CD8(+) T-cell effector functions and reduction of viral loads.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cytological Techniques
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Hepatitis B virus / growth & development*
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*