Establishment of an inducible cell line for Hepatitis B virus genotype C2 and its pharmacological responses to interferons.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C is closely associated with poor prognosis, contributing greatly to heavy chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related liver disease burden in China and worldwide. However, the mechanistic studies on genotype C of HBV remain largely limited, partially because of a long-term lack of genotype C HBV-based stable cellular tools. According to a bioinformatics analysis on the sub-genotype C2 HBV that is predominantly endemic in China, we selected 17.3 strain as a representative isolate. With a Tet-off gene expression system, an inducible viral replication and virion DNA production of genotype C2 HBV were achieved in a cell line carrying persistent rcDNA-cccDNA recycling, termed HepG2-17.3, can be useful for virological studies. Additionally, this cell line has been formatted into cell-based assay that permits particular pharmacological screening of drug candidates, such as interferon regimens, for evaluations of the inhibitory effects on genotype C2 HBV replication.