[Study of the cultured human endothelial cells infected by epidemic hemorrhagic fever virus].

Virus antigen could be detected in the cytoplasm of infected human endothelial cells (HEC) by immunofluorescent assay (IFA) 2 to 10 days after the inoculation of epidemic hemorrhagic fever virus (EHFV), but no apparent histologic changes could be found by phase contrast light microscopy, as well as no mature virus particles could be detected under the transmission electron microscope. Reinoculation of the freeze-melt supernatant of HEC 8 days after the inoculation of EHFV to EHFV susceptible Vero E-6 cells, viral antigen could be detected in most of these cells and mature EHFV particles or viral inclusion bodies could also be obtained in the cytoplasm under transmission electron microscope. The results show that HEC is a susceptible target cell to EHFV and infection by this virus may not give apparent cytopathogenic effect in HEC.