| Objective:Tupaia is a primate-related animal. It can be infected by some human relative viruses. Recently, studies demonstrated that tupaia hepatic cells can support the replication of HBV and HCV. So we think tupaia is a potential animal model of HCV susceptibility. In this study we use the full-length HCV infectious clone that synthesized in vitro to transfect tupaia in vivo. Then we observe the transform of HCV postinoculation. Finally, we discuss the possibility of tupaia model that can be infected by HCV.Methods:8 adult tupaias were divided into 2 groups. One group were inoculated intravenously with 50μg infectious full-length HCV RNA through thigh vein and the control group were inoculated with an unrelated plasmid. Serum sample was collected before and at 5 hours, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after inoculation, respectively, and liver tissue samples were obtained at day 5 and day 28 postinoculation. All tupaias were executed at day 28 after transfection. Serum HCV RNA was assayed by real-time quantitative PCR. Anti-HCV was detected with ELISA. HCV core protein as well as HCV RNA in liver tissue was examined by immunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization, respectively.Results:In 4 inoculated tupaias, serum HCV RNA could be detected at earlier days after inoculation. HCV RNA attached 90copies/ml at the 1st day and 101copies/ml at the 3rd day in tupaia A14 postinoculation. And HCV RNA attached 309copies/ml in tupaia Q3 at day 3 postinoculation. Antibodies against HCV was positive at day 21 in tupaia Q3 and positive at day 28 in tupaia A1 after transfection. HCV core protein as well as HCV RNA were detected in the liver tissue of tupaia Q3 at day 5 after inoculation. In total, 3 among 4 inoculated tupaia were infected, as evaluated with the appearance of serum HCV RNA or anti-HCV.Conclusion:Transitory viremia was detected in tupaia after transfection with full-length infectious HCV clone. Seroconversion appeared in inoculated tupaias from day 21 to day 28. |
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