Effect of insulin on an insulin receptor of PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cell line.

A human hepatoma cell line (PLC/PRF/5) contains several copies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in integrated form and releases hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the form of 22 nm particles in culture medium; studies of the supernatant fluid failed to provide evidence of the morphologically intact virion (Dane particle) or hepatitis B infectivity. In this paper we describe the effect of insulin on cell growth and HBsAg production by these cells; moreover we describe the insulin binding to specific cell membrane receptors. Data in our hands point to a different insulin binding related to different incubation conditions.