HBV replicating in bone marrow stem cells

HBV can infect and replicate in human BMSCs. Human BMSCs may be a useful tool for investigating HBV life-cycle and the mechanism of initial virus-cell interactions.

http://7thspace.com/headlines/398316/hepatitis_b_virus_infection_and_replication_in_human_bone_marrow_mesenchymal_stem_cells.html

[StephenCastlecrag]

Please note the infection was done in test tube. Whether the BMSC inside a human body can also be infected is still not absolute. But it does seem likely.  I would like to know whether the stem cells in the liver can also be infected. A question for Studyforhope?

[4est]

I think that the question was discuss in http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-B/Entry-inhibitors-show-promise-as-drugs/show/1570784?page=1

2. The liver stem cells, do they get infected too by HBV ?
The common thinking is NO, the satellite cells are not infectable, probably due to their lack of expression of the critical surface protein receptor gene.

[StephenCastlecrag]

Good memory. I just want to ask again in light of this new research finding about BMSCs.

[4est]

I hope he is still read this forum and will answer :)

anyway, my profane idea is that this scenario is not possible in vivo, but is a good tool for testing.