Lack of specific effect of adenine arabinoside, human interferon, and ribavirin on in vitro production of hepatitis B surface antigen.

PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells continue to produce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) after greater than 80 passages in vitro, but they do not express other markers of heaptitis B virus (HBV) replication. In this respect, they resemble most liver cells that are persistently infected with HBV. PLC/PRF/5 cells were cultured in the presence of adenine arabinoside, human fibroblast interferon, and ribavirin to determine whether production of HBsAg was sensitive to these antiviral agents. HBsAg released into culture media was detected by radioimmunoassay, and cellular protein synthesis was assessed by [3H]amino acid incorporation studies. A dose-related inhibition of HBsAg occurred with each antiviral agent that was tested, but in each case, this inhibition was matched by a reduction of cellular protein synthesis to a similar degree. Thus, no specific effect on the production of HBsAg was found with any of the antiviral agents tested.