Gene expression profile of Li23, a new human hepatoma cell line that enables robust hepatitis C virus replication: Comparison with HuH-7 and other hepatic cell lines

Human hepatoma cell line HuH-7-derived cells are currently the only cell culture system used for robust hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. We recently found a new human hepatoma cell line, Li23, that enables robust HCV replication. Although both cell lines had similar liver-specific expression profiles, the overall profile of Li23 seemed to differ considerably from that of HuH-7. To understand this difference, the expression profile of Li23 cells was further characterized by a comparison with that of HuH-7 cells.Methods: cDNA microarray analysis using Li23 and HuH-7 cells was performed. Li23-derived ORL8c cells and HuH-7-derived RSc cells, in which HCV could infect and efficiently replicate, were also used for the microarray analysis. For the comparative analysis by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), human hepatoma cell lines (HuH-6, HepG2, HLE, HLF and PLC/PRF/5) and immortalized hepatocyte cell line (PH5CH8) were also used.Results: Microarray analysis of Li23 versus HuH-7 cells selected 80 probes to represent highly expressed genes that have ratios of more than 30 (Li23/HuH-7) or 20 (HuH-7/Li23). Among them, 17 known genes were picked up for further analysis. The expression levels of most of these genes in Li23 and HuH-7 cells were retained in ORL8c and RSc cells, respectively. Comparative analysis by RT-PCR using several other hepatic cell lines resulted in the classification of 17 genes into three types, and identified three genes showing Li23-specific expression profiles.Conclusion: Li23 is a new hepatoma cell line whose expression profile is distinct from those of frequently used hepatic cell lines.