Figure 8: A humanized mouse model engrafted with human hematopoietic cells was utilized to show HCV infection of human lymphomononuclear cells in vivo by the lymphotropic HCV strain.
From: Hepatitis C virus has a genetically determined lymphotropism through co-receptor B7.2
(a) HCV infection in immunocompromised Rag2;Il2rg−/− (RG) mice engrafted with human hematopoietic stem cells (RG-hu HSC Mice) shows that the two HCV strains, SB and JFH-1, have different tissue-specificity. HCV RNA levels in serum and PBMCs isolated from RG-hu HSC mice at 70 days after HCV inoculation were determined by RT-qPCR. Tela: telaprevir (HCV NS3 inhibitor) treatment. (*P<0.05, t-test, n=3). Error bars represent s.d. (b) Human PBMCs from the infected RG-hu mice collected at 70 days after HCV inoculation were separated into various cell types and analysed for the presence of HCV RNA Memory B cells have high cellular HCV RNA levels in comparison to that of naïve B cells. (*P<0.05, t-test. n=3). Error bars represent s.d.
