Key message
The Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) is responsible for the most severe form of viral hepatitis. Here we describe that Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs), derived in vitro from human pluripotent stem cells, are susceptible to HDV infection. They support authentic viral entry, genome replication and viral protein translation and post-translational modification. Moreover, they reproduce key features of primary adult hepatocytes (PHHs), the natural host of the virus, particularly related to the antiviral innate immune activation and response to candidate antiviral drugs.
Translational perspective
HLCs constitute a new model to study HDV infection in vitro, more relevant than transformed hepatoma cell lines and without the inherent limitations of PHHs.
Original publication
Frauke Lange, Jonathan Garn, Holda A. Anagho, Florian W. R. Vondran, Thomas von Hahn, Thomas Pietschmann, Arnaud Carpentier.
Hepatitis D virus infection, innate immune response and antiviral treatments in stem cell-derived hepatocytes.
Liver International, 2023;43:2116-2129.