Background: To test susceptibility of human liver cell line Hep G2 to HCV in vitro.
Methods: Hep G2 was cultivated with the serum from a chronic hepatitis C patient. After inoculation, plus and minus strand of HCV RNA, the expression of HCV NS3 antigen and the location of HCV RNA in cell and/or supernatant were examined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.
Results: HCV RNA could be detected from day 2 to day 40 post-inoculation in both cell and supernatant. HCV NS3 antigen could be expressed in infected cells and HCV RNA was mainly situated within cytoplasm.
Conclusions: The results suggested that HepG2 cell line was not only susceptible to HCV but also could support its replication in vitro.