Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in industrialized countries. HCVβHIVβ1 coβinfection occurs frequently among users of illicit intravenous drugs, thereby increasing the severity of HIV disease and the evolution of chronic active hepatitis towards cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present work shows that THPβ1 monocytoid cells are susceptible to HCV infection, of strain 1b, and that this strain can induce cellular modifications in this cell line. Infection of HCV was demonstrated by positivity for the E2 antigen within THPβ1 cells and by indirect immunofluorescence; moreover, HCVβRNA was detected in supernatants of THPβ1 cells from day 7 postβinoculation. Cell shape and membrane surface antigens varied upon viral infection, which is also capable of inducing oxygen radicals. In particular we underline the relevant intracellular accumulation of ferritin that paralleled an increase of cell surface expression of the transferrin receptor. Evaluation of cellular events upon HCV infection in THPβ1 cells may represent a useful tool with which to identify alteration in monocytes metabolism and to study therapeutic approaches for such alterations. Copyright Β© 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.