Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-Like Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver diseases worldwide, is a result of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Due to its obligate intracellular life cycle, culture systems for efficient HBV replication are vital. Although basic and translational research on HBV has been performed for many years, conventional hepatocellular culture systems are not optimal. These studies have greatly benefited from recent improvements in cell culture models based on stem cell technology for HBV replication and infection studies. Here we describe a protocol for the differentiation of human stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) and subsequent HBV infection. HLCs are capable of expressing hepatocyte markers and host factors important for hepatic function maintenance. These cells fully support HBV infection and virus-host interactions. Stem cell-derived HLCs provide a new tool for antiviral drug screening and development.