Persistent infection of human fibroblasts by hepatitis A virus.

Infection of human embryo fibroblasts with hepatitis A virus (HAV), a picornavirus, leads to an inapparent, persistent infection; cultures can be passed serially with consistent recovery of the virus in the supernatant. All of the cells of a HAV carrier culture are infected and proliferate. Subcultivation under HAV-immune serum cannot achieve a cure or even a reduction in the number of infected cells in HAV carrier cultures. No interferon activity can be detected during HAV infection and persistence. Addition of exogenous interferon eliminates HAV infection in vitro. Persistence of HAV in vitro appears to contradict the clinical course of HAV infection in vivo. The system presented offers the possibility of evaluating the role of immunological injury of HAV-infected cells, an injury which may lead to damage of these cells and to elimination of HAV during an HAV infection in vivo.