The production of interferons is not impaired in primary isolated liver cells from HCV-positive individuals after Toll-like receptor mediated stimulation

Background: The function of the innate immune system of the human liver and its role in the local defense against HCV are not well understood. It has been reported that TLR induced IFN production in HCV-bearing hepatoma cells is blunted by a NS3/4 dependent mechanism. Aim of this study was to investigate the TLR signaling in primary isolated human liver cells from HCV-positive and HCV-negative individuals. Methods: Human liver samples were obtained after tumor resection (n=10) or liver transplantation (n=18; HCV n=7), respectively. Human hepatocytes (n=21) were isolated after liver perfusion and digestion of the…