Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
The CYP2D6 Animal Model: How to Induce Autoimmune Hepatitis in Mice
Published on: February 3, 2012
A novel immunocompetent rat model of HCV infection and hepatitis
George Y Wu1, Masayoshi Konishi, Cherie M Walton
1Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030-1845, USA. wu@nso.uchc.edu
Background & Aims:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects millions of people worldwide. Therapy is limited, and treatment does not produce a sustained response in the majority of patients. Development of new agents has been hampered by the lack of a convenient animal model. The aim of this study was to determine whether an immunocompetent rat, tolerized and transplanted with a human hepatoma cell line (Huh 7 cells), could be used to sustain an HCV infection.
Methods:
Fetal rats were tolerized in utero with 10(5) Huh 7 cells. One day after birth, rats were transplanted with 5 x 10(6) Huh 7 cells and, a week later, inoculated with HCV, genotype 1.
Results:
In tolerized, transplanted, and HCV-infected rats, Huh 7 cells were found in the liver, and HCV viral replication was detected by the presence of negative strand HCV RNA. HCV levels in serum were measured at 11,000 copies/mL at week 4, peaked at 22,500 copies/mL by week 12. In tolerized, transplanted, inoculated rats, but not controls, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values increased to 60 IU/L by week 4 and reached a peak of approximately 120 IU/L by week 13. Histology showed foci of mononuclear infiltrates in portal and central regions.
Conclusions:
HCV-inoculated immunocompetent rats tolerized and transplanted with Huh 7 cells support HCV gene expression, viral replication, and develop biochemical and histologic evidence of hepatitis.
