RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Wölk, Benno A1 Gremion, Christel A1 Ivashkina, Natalia A1 Engler, Olivier B. A1 Grabscheid, Benno A1 Bieck, Elke A1 Blum, Hubert E. A1 Cerny, Andreas A1 Moradpour, DariusYR 2005 T1 Stable human lymphoblastoid cell lines constitutively expressing hepatitis C virus proteins JF Journal of General Virology, VO 86 IS 6 SP 1737 OP 1746 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.80853-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The cellular immune response plays a central role in virus clearance and pathogenesis of liver disease in hepatitis C. The study of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific immune responses is limited by currently available cell-culture systems. Here, the establishment and characterization of stable human HLA-A2-positive B-lymphoblastoid×T hybrid cell lines constitutively expressing either the NS3–4A complex or the entire HCV polyprotein are reported. These cell lines, termed T1/NS3-4A and T1/HCVcon, respectively, were maintained in continuous culture for more than 1 year with stable characteristics. HCV structural and non-structural proteins were processed accurately, indicating that the cellular and viral proteolytic machineries are functional in these cell lines. Viral proteins were found in the cytoplasm in dot-like structures when expressed in the context of the HCV polyprotein or in a perinuclear fringe when the NS3–4A complex was expressed alone. T1/NS3-4A and T1/HCVcon cells were lysed efficiently by HCV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from patients with hepatitis C and from human HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice immunized with a liposomal HCV vaccine, indicating that viral proteins are processed endogenously and presented efficiently via the major histocompatibility complex class I pathway. In conclusion, these cell lines represent a unique tool to study the cellular immune response, as well as to evaluate novel vaccine and immunotherapeutic strategies against HCV., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.80853-0