Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Controlled synthesis of HBsAg in a differentiated human liver carcinoma-derived cell line

Abstract

A significant aspect of primary hepatic carcinoma in man is the high positive correlation of hepatocelhilar carcinoma with infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)1. Analysis of the relationship between HBV infection and oncogenesis is difficult because natural infection with HBV is limited to man and experimental infection has been achieved only in chimpanzees and gibbons. Furthermore, because HBV has not been successfully propagated in cell culture, basic study of virus–cell interaction of the aetiological agent of one of the most widespread infections of man has been impossible2. Recently, however, a cell line (PLC/PRF/5) derived from a human hepatoma biopsy was described3 which produces the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and so provides a tool for the experimental investigation of HBV in vitro. We now report the derivation and characterisation of two additional cell lines from primary liver carcinomas. In contrast to the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, these cell lines retain the capacity to synthesise many human plasma proteins, including both albumin and α-fetoprotein (AFP). One of these lines also produces HBsAg. We also present evidence that HBsAg synthesis and secretion in this cell line are correlated with the growth state of the culture. This finding is in contrast to the continuous HBsAg production found in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Purchase on Springer Link

Instant access to full article PDF

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Szmuness, W. Prog. med. Virol. 24, 40–69 (1978).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Robinson, W. S. A. Rev. Microbiol. 32, 357–377 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Macnab, G. M., Alexander, J. J., Lecatsas, G., Bey, E. M. & Urbanowicz, J. M. Br. J. Cancer 34, 509–515 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gyorkey, G. et al. J. natn. Cancer Inst. 59, 1451–1467 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sell, S., Skelly, H., Leffert, H. L., Muller-Eberhard, U. & Kida, S. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 259, 45–58 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Twist, E. M., Clark, H. F. & Plotkin, S. (in preparation).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aden, D., Fogel, A., Plotkin, S. et al. Controlled synthesis of HBsAg in a differentiated human liver carcinoma-derived cell line. Nature 282, 615–616 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282615a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282615a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing