Abstract: Objective To explore the replication efficiency of Newcastle disease virus in hepatic stellate cells. Methods Human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 were stimulated with TGF-β1 and the proliferation of LX-2 cells was detected by MTT assay, RT-PCR was used to measure the changes of related genes mRNA levels. Different passages LX-2 cells and primary mouse HSCs with or without TGF-β1 stimulation were infected by NDFLtag-EGFP, NDV replication in these cells was observed under fluroscent microscopy. The replication of NDFLtag-EGFP and NDV-Italien in LX-2 was detected by flow cytometry (FACS). Results TGF-β1 stimulated the activation of LX-2 cells. The efficiency of NDV replication was increased with the consecutive passages (from (15.65±0.92)% to (23.05±1.5)%, (P<0.05)) and TGF-β1 stimulation of LX-2 cells (from (12.8±1.4)% to (22.7±1.7)%, (P<0.05)). In primary isolated mouse HSCs, NDV also had increasing replication with HSC passage and TGF-β1 stimulation. Conclusions NDV replicate in activated HSC effectively, it means that activation of HSC facilitate the replication of NDV in this kind of cells.

Key words: Newcastle disease virus, Hepatic stellate cell, TGF-β1, activation