Pathogenetic tropism of varicella-zoster virus to primary human hepatocytes and attenuating tropism of Oka varicella vaccine strain to neonatal dermal fibroblasts.

The pathogenesis of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was characterized by the cell tropism of the original Oka and attenuated Oka varicella vaccine strains. Among the tissue cells examined, VZV replicated best in hepatocytes and second best in lung fibroblasts. The high affinity to hepatocytes and lung fibroblasts might correlate with varicella hepatitis and pneumonia and with autopsy observations of varicella. Cell tropism may be important in understanding the pathogenesis of VZV.