BACKGROUND/AIMS: Molecular and structural studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and infection have been performed on cultured cells and on serum of infected patients. No conclusive studies were conducted yet on human liver biopsies. This paper describes the ultrastructural findings of hepatitis C virus components in liver biopsies. METHODS: Liver specimens from acutely and chronically HCV-infected chimpanzees (five each) and 29 chronic hepatitis C patients were studied. Diagnosis of HCV infection was based on clinical, serological, light microscopic and immunohistochemical data and on HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In HCV-infected chimpanzees, tubular aggregates were observed in the cytoplasm of a significant number of hepatocytes and proven by immuno-electron microscopy to contain HCV-E2 viral envelope material. Identical tubular aggregates were seen in hepatocytes of chronic HCV-infected patients, although in smaller quantity and less frequently. A few single enveloped virus-like particles of 50-60 nm in diameter were seen for the first time in the hyaloplasm of hepatocytes of HCV-infected chimpanzees and patients. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, HCV envelope material was ultrastructurally identified in hepatocytes of HCV-infected chimpanzees and patients. Virus-like particles, although strongly suggestive for HCV, failed final confirmation at least by routinely used methods.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Molecular and structural studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and infection have been performed on cultured cells and on serum of infected patients. No conclusive studies were conducted yet on human liver biopsies. This paper describes the ultrastructural findings of hepatitis C virus components in liver biopsies. METHODS: Liver specimens from acutely and chronically HCV-infectedchimpanzees (five each) and 29 chronic hepatitis Cpatients were studied. Diagnosis of HCV infection was based on clinical, serological, light microscopic and immunohistochemical data and on HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In HCV-infectedchimpanzees, tubular aggregates were observed in the cytoplasm of a significant number of hepatocytes and proven by immuno-electron microscopy to contain HCV-E2 viral envelope material. Identical tubular aggregates were seen in hepatocytes of chronic HCV-infectedpatients, although in smaller quantity and less frequently. A few single enveloped virus-like particles of 50-60 nm in diameter were seen for the first time in the hyaloplasm of hepatocytes of HCV-infectedchimpanzees and patients. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, HCV envelope material was ultrastructurally identified in hepatocytes of HCV-infectedchimpanzees and patients. Virus-like particles, although strongly suggestive for HCV, failed final confirmation at least by routinely used methods.
Authors: Zhengxian Gu; Jason D Graci; Frederick C Lahser; Jamie J Breslin; Stephen P Jung; James H Crona; Patricia McMonagle; Ellen Xia; Shaotang Liu; Gary Karp; Jin Zhu; Song Huang; Amin Nomeir; Marla Weetall; Neil G Almstead; Stuart W Peltz; Xiao Tong; Robert Ralston; Joseph M Colacino Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2013-04-29 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Emmanuel G Cormier; Robert J Durso; Fotini Tsamis; Lise Boussemart; Catherine Manix; William C Olson; Jason P Gardner; Tatjana Dragic Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2004-09-15 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Emmanuel G Cormier; Fay Tsamis; Francis Kajumo; Robert J Durso; Jason P Gardner; Tatjana Dragic Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2004-05-03 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Andrée M Vandermeeren; Carmen Elena Gómez; Cristina Patiño; Elena Domingo-Gil; Susana Guerra; Jose Manuel González; Mariano Esteban Journal: Virol J Date: 2008-09-15 Impact factor: 4.099
Authors: Anna Wieczorek; Piotr M Stępień; Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk; Wiesław Kryczka; Paweł Pabjan; Teodora Król Journal: Clin Exp Hepatol Date: 2017-06-12