Hepatitis B virus infection of transplanted human hepatocytes causes a biochemical and histological hepatitis in immunocopetentent rats.

Aim: To characterize the host response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in human hepatocytes transplanted into immunocompetent rodent rats tolerized by, and transplanted with primary human hepatocytes.

Methods: One week after the transplantation, rats were inoculated with HBV, and viral gene expression, replication, and host response was monitored.

Results: HBV DNA was detectable in serum for at least 60 days.

Gene therapy: Recent advances and applications in gastroenterology and hepatology.

The advantages and disadvantages of viral and non-viral vectors for gene delivery are reviewed. Advances in systems for introduction of new gene expression are described, including self-deleting retroviral transfer vectors, chimeric viruses and chimeric oligonucleotides. Systems for inhibition of gene expression are also discussed including antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes and dominant-negative genes.