Characterisation of primary human hepatocytes after transplantation into the upa mouse model

Backround/Aim: Immunodeficient uPA mice containing livers repopulated with human hepatocytes provide a small in vivo model for studies on human hepatotropic viruses. We reported partial repopulation of the liver of uPA±/RAG–2 mice with normal human hepatocytes isolated from the adult liver followed by the establishment of Human Hepatitis B Virus infection (Dandri et al, Hepatology 2001; J Hepatol 2005). Repopulation levels >20% with human hepatocytes are rare in this system. To improve transplantation efficacy we investigated cell functions of the human hepatocytes within the xenogenic environment and cell-cell…