Objective and design Human stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) have shown high potential as authentic model for dissection of the HCV life cycle and virus-induced pathogenesis. However, modest HCV replication, possibly due to robust innate immune responses, limits their broader use. To overcome these limitations and to dissect the mechanisms responsible for control of HCV, we analysed expression of key components of the interferon (IFN) system in HLCs, assessed permissiveness for different HCV strains and blocked innate immune signalling by pharmacological intervention. Results Transcriptional profiling revealed that HLCs constitutively express messenger RNA of RLRs, and members of the IFN pathway. Moreover, HLCs upregulated IFNs and canonical interferon-regulated genes (IRGs) upon transfection with the double-stranded RNA mimic poly(I:C). Infection of HLCs with Jc1-HCVcc produced only limited viral progeny. In contrast, infection with p100, a Jc1-derived virus population with enhanced replication fitness and partial resistance to IFN, resulted in robust yet transient viraemia. Viral titres declined concomitant with a peak of IRG induction. Addition of ruxolitinib, a JAK/STAT inhibitor, permitted chronic infection and raised p100 infectious virus titres to 1×105 FFU/mL. IRGs expression profiling in infected HLCs revealed a landscape of HCV-dependent transcriptional changes similar to HCV-infected primary human hepatocytes, but distinct from Huh-7.5 cells. Withdrawal of ruxolitinib restored innate immune responses and resulted in HCV clearance. Conclusion This authentic human cell model is well suited to examine acute and chronic host-HCV interactions, particularly IFN-triggered antiviral effector functions and mechanisms of innate immune control of HCV infection.

中文翻译：

---

丙型肝炎病毒对干细胞源性肝细胞的高效急性和慢性感染


目的和设计 人类干细胞来源的肝细胞样细胞 (HLC) 已显示出作为剖析 HCV 生命周期和病毒诱导发病机制的真实模型的巨大潜力。然而，可能由于强大的先天免疫反应，丙型肝炎病毒复制有限，限制了其更广泛的使用。为了克服这些限制并剖析控制 HCV 的机制，我们分析了 HLC 中干扰素 (IFN) 系统关键成分的表达，评估了不同 HCV 毒株的许可性，并通过药物干预阻断先天免疫信号传导。结果转录谱显示 HLC 组成型表达 RLR 的信使 RNA 以及 IFN 通路的成员。此外，在用双链RNA模拟物poly(I:C)转染后，HLC上调了IFN和典型干扰素调节基因(IRG)。 Jc1-HCVcc 感染 HLC 只产生有限的病毒后代。相比之下，p100（一种源自 Jc1 的病毒群，具有增强的复制适应性和对 IFN 的部分抗性）的感染会导致强烈但短暂的病毒血症。病毒滴度随着 IRG 诱导的峰值而下降。添加 Ruxolitinib（一种 JAK/STAT 抑制剂）可实现慢性感染，并将 p100 感染性病毒滴度提高至 1×105 FFU/mL。感染 HLC 中的 IRG 表达谱揭示了 HCV 依赖性转录变化，与 HCV 感染的原代人肝细胞相似，但与 Huh-7.5 细胞不同。停用鲁索替尼可恢复先天免疫反应并导致丙型肝炎病毒清除。 结论 这种真实的人类细胞模型非常适合检查急性和慢性宿主-HCV 相互作用，特别是 IFN 触发的抗病毒效应功能和 HCV 感染的先天免疫控制机制。