TRANSFECTION OF THE HEPG CELL LINE WITH THE MOUSE NTCP GENE-CONTAINING VECTOR AND CONFIRMATION OF NTCP EXPRESSION USING WESTERN BLOT.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a liver infection that can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In order to study the method of inhibition of HBV viral entry and proliferation in hepatocytes, we should investigate the hepatocytes infected by HBV. In order to gather infected hepatocytes, firstly, healthy hepatocytes (HepG2) have to be infected and most importantly stay infected in vitro. In order to efficiently infect the hepatocyte, these cells have to express Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) on their surfaces. NTCP is proven to significantly contribute to HBV entry into the cells. However, these cell lines are not able to express NTCP protein continuously in vitro which makes them insusceptible to viral infection. Thus, preparing the cell lines which are constantly expressing the NTCP, would provide an opportunity to be continuously infected by HBV HepG2 cell line which is optimal for longitudinal research on the topic of potential treatment of Hepatitis B Virus infection.