Abstract:

Abstract:Objective
To check the induction of the expression of the genes related to the immune response of human hepatocytes at the early stage of RNA virus infection and to reveal the hepatocyte specific immune response.Methods The Sendai virus (SV) infected primary human hepatocytes were divided into  0,3 and 6 h groups, immunofluorescence (IF) assay was used to detect the location of IRF3 and IRF7.The SV infected primary human hepatocytes were divided  into 0,1,2 and 3 h groups,the  expressions of  IFNα1,IFNβ  and IFNλ3 and RIG-I in the hepatocytes at the early phase of infection  were detected by Real-time PCR.Results The IRF3 and IRF7 were detected in the cytoplasma before SV infection.The signal of IRF7 was detected in the nuclear of some cells after 3 h infection of SV,and the signals of both IRF3 and IRF7 were detected in the nuclear of some cells after 6 h infection.Compared with 0 h SV infection group,the  expressions of RIG-I, IFNβ  and IFNλ3  were significantly increased and  IFNα1 was slightly increased in 2 h SV infection  group （P<0.05）.Conclusion The nuclear translocation of the constitutively expressed IRF7 in hepatocytes occurs at the early stage of infection and is related to the induction of expression of the IFNs corresponding to the infection.It indicates that the hepatocytes have specific and fast immune response to the virus infection.

Key words: immune response;hepatocytes;interferon